Lepus

Abbreviation: Â Lep
English Name: Â The Hare
Genitive:Â Arneb
Hemisphere:  Southern Hemisphere
Location:Â Between the constellations of Canis Major and Eridanus.
Visible between latitudes: Â +60 and -90 degrees
Best season: Winter
Seen in three seasons:Â Autumn, Winter and Early Spring
Best seen in:  January
Seen between:Â December and late February
Right Ascension (RA):Â Â 06 hour
Declination (DEC):  -20 degrees
Area (square degrees): Â 290Â (51st)

Lepus (The Hare)

• Lepus is a small constellation and  lies under the feet of Orion (The Hunter).
• It contains the very red Mira variable star – R Leporis, range magnitude +5.5 to magnitude +11.7; period 427 days.

Messier Objects

• M79 – Globular Cluster of magitude +8.0, visible with a small telescope or large binoculars.

Features of Interest

• NGC 2017 – small open cluster; colourful multiple star riding on the back of Lepus.

Named Stars

• Arneb (Alpha Leporis, magnitude +2.58)
• Nihal (Beta Leporis)

Others

• Photo of the constellation;Â Lepus, as it appears to the naked eye. (Lines have been added for clarity.)
• Sky Chart  –  Lepus
• List of stars in Lepus.

Back to The 88 Constellations Lists