Yellow giant · Hydra

Ashlesha

Also known as: ε Hydrae (ε Hya), HIP 43109

mag 3.4130 light-years

About

Ashlesha (ε Hydrae) is a yellow giant of magnitude 3.4 in Hydra, about 130 light-years away.

Ashlesha is in the constellation Hydra.
Best evenings: around mid-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 north of 74° S.

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.

EyesVisible from the suburbs on a clear night, but lost in bright city skies.
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	Ashlesha
Designation	ε Hydrae (ε Hya)
Hipparcos number	HIP 43109
Type	Yellow giant
Spectral type	G0III-IV
Colour	YellowB−V colour index 0.69
Magnitude	3.4The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	130 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1900.
Proper motion	0.23″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Hydra
Right ascension (J2000)	08h 46m 46.5s
Declination (J2000)	+06° 25′ 08″