BellaOnline Forums Education Astronomy Hydra the Water Snake – Myths and Stars *revised*

What links the biggest constellation in the sky with the flag of Brazil? Why is the star V Hydrae bright red? How did the hero Hercules vanquish a nine-headed monster?

Hydra the Water Snake – Myths and Stars

The constellation isn't always depicted as a water snake. Hydra could also be the nine-headed serpent killed by the hero Hercules with the help of Iolaus. The vase is dated 450-500 B.C. and is in the collections of the Regional Archaeological Museum Antonio Salinas, Palermo.

Stars are different colors. We can even see some colors with our unaided eyes. Orion's stars, for example, include a reddish Betelgeuse and a noticeably blue Rigel. But binoculars and telescopes help to reveal color. Many stars like red giant Betelgeuse tend to look orange. But there are carbon stars that are a deep red. V Hydrae is such a star.

I couldn't find a good picture of V Hydrae, but here is R Leporis in the constellation Lepus photographed by Joseph Brimacombe.