Click the constellation map above to enlarge it in a lightbox window.
Like the previous constellation (Horologium) featured in an Amazing Astronomy post, HYDRA the Sea Serpent is not a notably visible constellation. Even so, the sea serpent impressively stretches across a vast 100-degree portion of the night sky and is therefore the largest constellation. Additionally, Hydra can make the claim of having a decent number of deep-sky objects. Visible from both the northern and southern hemispheres on Earth, Hydra borders a whopping 14 constellations: Antlia, Cancer, Canis Minor, Centaurus, Corvus, Crater, Leo, Libra, Lupus, Monoceros, Puppis, Pyxis, Sextans, and Virgo. Look at all those galaxies listed below ... and this is not a fully comprehensive list!
GALAXIES: NGC 2713, 2781, 2784, 2811, 2835, 2935, 2962, 2967, 2986, 2989, 3078, 3091, 3109, 3145, 3200, 3402, 3511, 3513, 3585, 3621, 3904, 3923, 4105, 4106, 5061, 5078, 5085, 5101, Abell 1060 Hydra Cluster (over 150 galaxies, including NGC 3309, 3311, and 3312), and Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (M83 and NGC 5236)
BRIGHTEST STAR: Alphard (Alpha Hydrae) (α), 1.98 apparent magnitude
2ND-BRIGHTEST STAR: Gamma Hydrae (γ), 3.00 apparent magnitude
GLOBULAR STAR CLUSTERS: Messier 68 (NGC 4590) and NGC 5694
OPEN STAR CLUSTER: Messier 48 (NGC 2548)
PLANETARY NEBULAE: Abell PK303 +40.1, Diamond Ring Nebula (Abell 33), and Ghost of Jupiter Nebula (NGC 3242)
VARIABLE STARS: AK Hydrae, IN Hydrae, R Hydrae, U Hydrae, and Y Hydrae
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