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Hydra

OBSERVER: Ola Karlsson
COMPOSER: Ola Karlsson
DATE: 23 Mars 2014
POSITION: AZ: 180 00 00 ALT: 20 00 00
EXPOSURE TIME: 9x15s, combined
Hydra is a southern constellation, partly going into the northern sky. In greek mythology Hydra is connected to Corvus and Crater, but also Hercules in a none related story. It is difficult so see all of Hydra at once in Sweden due to it's location and shape. The best time to see it is in late evenings of early April. To see most of it at one time one should wait for Virgo/Bootes to be to the south. Most of the constellation is made up by stars which are not particularly bright, but near by stars are even fainter. Because of the intensity cuts in the image M48, an open cluster, is not seen close to the right most border. However, one asteroid can be seen, (2) Pallas. Go two constellation stars from the head of the hydra to 35Hya close to the Sextans border. Go back one constellation star (to 22Hya). Almost half way between these two stars, above the line, there are three faint stars on a row (the distance from the line is less than the half way distance). From these three stars go one third of the distance to 35Hya. Here are two faint dots on the same alignment as the "three stars". The slightly less faint upper dot of these two is Pallas. This image is composed from three.
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