Lepus (constellation) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lepus

Constellation
List of stars in Lepus
Abbreviation	Lep
Genitive	Leporis
Pronunciation	or colloquially genitive
Symbolism	the Hare
Right ascension	6
Declination	−20
Quadrant	NQ2
Area	290 sq. deg. (51st)
Main stars	8
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	20
Stars with planets	3
Stars brighter than 3.00m	2
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	3
Brightest star	α Lep (Arneb) (2.58m)
Messier objects	1
Meteor showers	None
Bordering constellations	Orion Monoceros Canis Major Columba Caelum Eridanus
Visible at latitudes between +63° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of January.

Lepus is a constellation south of the celestial equator. Its name is Latin for hare. The hare is not from any figure in Greek mythology. Lepus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy. It is one of the 88 modern constellations. It is below the constellation Orion (the hunter). It is known as a hare being chased by Orion.

This constellation should not be mixed up with Lupus, the wolf.

Notable features

The constellation Lepus as it can be seen by the naked eye.

Deep-sky objects

• IC 418 is a planetary nebula located about 1,100 light years away.
• There is one Messier Object in Lepus, M79. It is a globular cluster of magnitude 8.0, 42,000 light-years from Earth. It is one of the few globular clusters seen in the Northern Hemisphere winter.

• Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN: 978-0-00-725120-9. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN: 978-0-691-13556-4.

The star T Leporis as seen with VLTI.
Credit: ESO/J.-B. Le Bouquin et al.

Images for kids

• 

  Lepus as seen in Urania's Mirror (1825)

See also

In Spanish: Lepus (constelación) para niños