WESTERN HYDRA

The Head of Hydra (the Water Serpent) looks down on us from just above right center. A western body of the Water Serpent then sprawls to the left, marked best by the bright star Alphard (Alpha Hya) down and to the left of center. Bright Zeta and Epsilon Hya are respectively the left and right-hand stars of the ragged circle that makes the Head. Southern Cancer is at the upper right corner. ` The open cluster M 48 is prominent toward the lower right corner.