We use cookies to deliver essential features and to measure their performance. By using this site you accept our Privacy Policies.
A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
Donate Now! Help keep this site free and ads-free!
public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
sleep NighttimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » 

Lepus (The Hare) Constellation

Altitude: -51.0°   Azimuth: 316.1°   Direction: North-West

Lepus (pronounced ˈliːpəs) is the Latin name of a constellation situated close to the celestial equator. As such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year.

In English language this constellation is also known as "The Hare" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Lep" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Leps" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Leporis" (pronounced ˈlɛpərɪs) and it is used to identify some of the brightest stars in this constellation based on the Bayer or Flamsteed star naming convention. For instance: α Leporis (the brightest star of Lepus based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Leporis (the 23th star in the constellation of Lepus based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Lepus is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.
Available Resources for Lepus

Sky Chart of Lepus Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Lepus constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Lepus in the night sky using our Online Interactive Planetarium.

Chart of  constellation
This constellation image is derivatve work based on original work by IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) CC-BY-3.0.

Visibility of Lepus Constellation

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's Lepus rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 109.0°
Max altitude: 19.5°
Azimuth: 251.0°
Lepus is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

The rise and set times provided here are just directional indications and they refer to a point approximately placed at the center of the constellation. In case of very large constellations these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Lepus Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Lepus constellation. See also the complete list of 76 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Lepus. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR1865 α Leporis Arneb 2.58 Variable; Multiple;
HR1829 β Leporis Nihal 2.84 Variable; Multiple;
HR1654 ε Leporis 3.19 Variable;
HR1702 μ Leporis 3.31 Variable;
HR1998 ζ Leporis 3.55
HR1983 γ Leporis 3.6 Multiple;
HR2085 η Leporis 3.71
HR2035 δ Leporis 3.81
HR1756 λ Leporis 4.29
HR1705 κ Leporis 4.36 Double;
HR1696 ι Leporis 4.45 Double;
HR2155 θ Leporis 4.67
HR1762 4.71 Variable; Double;
HR1621 4.91
HR2148 17 Leporis 4.93 Variable;
HR1628 5.02
HR2140 5.04 Multiple;
HR1771 5.06 Multiple;
HR1723 5.07
HR1783 8 Leporis 5.25
...go to the complete list of 76 bright stars in the constellation of Lepus

(*) HR stands for Harvard Revised Bright Star Catalogue, which is also known as the Yale Catalogue of Bright Stars.

Deep Sky Objects in Lepus Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Lepus constellation. See also the complete list of 54 deep sky objects in the constellation of Lepus. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
Messier 79 Globular Cluster 8.16 (V)
IC 418 Planetary Nebula 9.44 (V)
NGC 1964 Galaxy 10.81 (V)
NGC 1784 Galaxy 11.4 (B)
NGC 1744 Galaxy 11.41 (V)
NGC 2139 Galaxy 11.71 (V)
NGC 1832 Galaxy 12.2 (B)
NGC 2179 Galaxy 12.45 (V)
NGC 1954 Galaxy 12.5 (B)
NGC 1889 Galaxy 12.6 (B)
NGC 2076 Galaxy 12.7 (B)
IC 438 Galaxy 12.75 (B)
NGC 1979 Galaxy 12.85 (B)
NGC 2089 Galaxy 12.93 (B)
NGC 1730 Galaxy 13 (B)
NGC 1888 Galaxy 13 (B)
NGC 2106 Galaxy 13.12 (B)
NGC 1993 Galaxy 13.41 (B)
IC 2143 Galaxy 13.41 (B)
NGC 2073 Galaxy 13.44 (B)
...go to the complete list of 54 deep sky objects in the constellation of Lepus