μ Hydrae (mu Hydrae)

μ Hydrae is a giant star in the constellation of Hydra.

μ Hydrae visual magnitude is 3.81. Because of its moderate brightness, μ Hydrae should be easily visible from locations with dark skyes, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skyes affected by light pollution.

The table below summarizes the key facts about μ Hydrae:

Color of μ Hydrae ⬤

Magnitude of μ Hydrae 3.81

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW μ Hydrae (mu Hydrae) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 22°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of μ Hydrae

μ Hydrae is situated close to the celestial equator, as such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of μ Hydrae are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 10h 26m 05s

Declination J2000 -16° 50’ 11”

Galactic Longitude 259.99°

Galactic Latitude 33.65°

Constellation Hydra

The simplified sky map below shows the position of μ Hydrae in the sky:

Simplified finder chart for μ Hydrae (mu Hydrae).

Visibility of μ Hydrae from your location

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

Today's μ Hydrae (mu Hydrae) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change] are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 106.8° RISE 18:20

Max altitude: 21.7° TRANSIT 22:50

Azimuth: 253.2° SET 3:23

RIGHT NOW μ Hydrae (mu Hydrae) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of μ Hydrae

The image below is a photograph of μ Hydrae from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2 - see the credits section) taken in the red channel. The area of sky represented in the image is 0.5x0.5 degrees (30x30 arcmins). The proper motion of μ Hydrae is -0.128 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.08 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of μ Hydrae. The red arrow shows the motion of μ Hydrae during the next 1000 years (-2.13 arcmin in Right Ascension and -1.33 arcmin in declination);

Distance of μ Hydrae from the Sun and relative movement

μ Hydrae is distant 248.10 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 40 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 76.10 pc

Distance (light year) 248.10 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 40 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.128 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.08 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of μ Hydrae

μ Hydrae belongs to spectral class K4 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude -0.60

Spectral Type K4III

Color Index (B-V) 1.48

Temperature of μ Hydrae 3824K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where μ Hydrae is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of μ Hydrae. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

Alternative designations of μ Hydrae

Bayer designation μ Hydrae
(mu Hydrae)

Flamsteed designation 42 Hydrae

Henry Draper Catalogue HD90432

SAO Catalogue SAO155980

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP51069

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD-16 3052

FK5 Catalogue 389

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