When is the best time to observe Pi Hydrae?

Pi Hydrae is best observed from March through May, with peak visibility during April when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Pi Hydrae located in the sky?

Pi Hydrae lies in the constellation Hydra at right ascension 14h 06m and declination -26° 41′.

What telescope do I need to see Pi Hydrae?

At magnitude 3.3, Pi Hydrae is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Pi Hydrae — Star in Hydra

Magnitude 3.3^m Star Hydra (Hya) Visible

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About Pi Hya

Description

Pi Hydrae is an orange giant of spectral type K2III at magnitude 3.27 in Hydra. Located about 101 light-years from Earth, it has a surface temperature of roughly 4,600 K and a luminosity about 61 times solar. It is one of the modest but reliable stars marking the long body of the Water Snake.

Observing Tips

Pi Hya lies in the mid-body region of Hydra, between the head and the tail. It appears as a warm orange star in a relatively sparse patch of sky south of Leo and Virgo. Best observed from March through June. Like many Hydra stars, it requires some familiarity with the constellation to locate confidently.

History

Pi Hydrae has no traditional proper name. The constellation Hydra was one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy and has remained largely unchanged since antiquity. Pi Hya lies in the portion of Hydra that passes below the constellations Corvus and Crater, which in myth ride on the serpent's back.

Fun Facts

At only 101 light-years, Pi Hya is one of the closer K-type giant stars to the Sun, making it a good example of what awaits the Sun in about 5 billion years — an expanded orange giant with a much cooler surface than it has today.