Yellow giant · Hydra

Zhang

Also known as: υ¹ Hydrae (υ¹ Hya), HIP 48356

mag 4.1260 light-years

About

Zhang (υ¹ Hydrae) is a yellow giant of magnitude 4.1 in Hydra, about 260 light-years away.

Zhang is in the constellation Hydra.
Best evenings: around early April 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 65° 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.

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	Zhang
Designation	υ¹ Hydrae (υ¹ Hya)
Hipparcos number	HIP 48356
Type	Yellow giant
Spectral type	G6/G8III
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 0.92
Magnitude	4.1The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	260 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1760.
Proper motion	0.029″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Hydra
Right ascension (J2000)	09h 51m 28.7s
Declination (J2000)	−14° 50′ 48″