Star profile

Nu Hydrae

3D likeness based on its real data · class K · ~4,200 K

What is Nu Hydrae

Nu Hydrae is an orange giant that has burned through its core hydrogen and swollen to roughly twenty-one solar radii, shining with the light of about one hundred and fifty Suns. It marks a bright point along the long body of Hydra, the largest of all constellations. Its motion across the sky runs three times faster than its neighbours — a traveller merely passing through our corner of the galaxy.

Where it is and when to see it

Nu Hydrae lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is March, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 22° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 33° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 72° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 74° N.

It ranks no. 4 in brightness among the 121 stars of Hydra in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alphard, the brightest: it lies about 21° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 140 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Nu Hydrae

Constellation: Hydra
Apparent magnitude: 3.11
Distance: 143.8 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 162.406° · Dec -16.194°
Catalogue: HIP 52943 · HD 93813

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Other stars in Hydra

Hydra has 121 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 121 stars in Hydra