Star profile

Chi 1 Hydrae

3D likeness based on its real data · class F · ~6,500 K

What is Chi 1 Hydrae

Chi-1 Hydrae is a yellow-white subgiant 141 light-years away, in the long winding body of Hydra. About 1.3 billion years old, it burns at 6,600 kelvin, a little hotter than the Sun. It is a binary, paired with a quieter companion that travels with it through the galaxy. It marks the western reaches of Hydra, where the celestial serpent rises just beneath Cancer.

Where it is and when to see it

Chi 1 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 11° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 22° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 83° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 63° N.

It ranks no. 37 in brightness among the 121 stars of Hydra in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alphard, the brightest: it lies about 30° 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 Chi 1 Hydrae

Constellation: Hydra
Apparent magnitude: 4.92
Distance: 141.0 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 166.333° · Dec -27.294°
Catalogue: HIP 54204 · HD 96202

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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