Beta Hydri — Star in Hydrus

Beta Hydri is a yellow subgiant of spectral type G2IV at magnitude 2.80, located only about 24 light-years from Earth. It is often cited as the closest reasonably bright star that closely resembles what the Sun will become in about 5–6 billion years — a slightly evolved subgiant that has just exhausted its core hydrogen. It is slightly larger, brighter, and cooler than the Sun.

Beta Hydri is a southern circumpolar star from latitudes south of about 62°S and is never visible from northern latitudes above about 15°N. It appears as a modest yellow star in the small, faint constellation Hydrus (the Little Water Snake). Best observed from October through December. At its distance, it is one of the closest bright stars to the south celestial pole.

Beta Hydri has no traditional proper name. Hydrus was introduced by Petrus Plancius and first appeared on a celestial globe by him in 1597. The constellation represents a small water snake, distinct from the much larger Hydra. Beta Hydri was proposed as a possible south pole star around 2000 BC, when the pole was much closer to its position.