Orange giant · Hydra

Alphard

Also known as: α Hydrae (α Hya), HIP 46390

mag 2.0180 light-years

About

Alphard (α Hydrae) is an orange giant of magnitude 2.0 in Hydra, about 180 light-years away.

Alphard is in the constellation Hydra.
Best evenings: around late March it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from south of 71° N.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesEasy, even from town. Its orange-red tint is plain to see.
Binoculars (10×50)A sharp point; binoculars bring out its colour and the fainter stars around it.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Still a point of light at any magnification — stars are too far away to show a disc. Low in the sky, bright stars twinkle and flash colours.

Stars look the same in any instrument: brighter and sharper, but never bigger.

Proper name	Alphard
Designation	α Hydrae (α Hya)
Hipparcos number	HIP 46390
Type	Orange giant
Spectral type	K3III
Colour	OrangeB−V colour index 1.44
Magnitude	2.0The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	180 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1850.
Proper motion	0.036″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Hydra
Right ascension (J2000)	09h 27m 35.3s
Declination (J2000)	−08° 39′ 31″