Lepus (constellation)

Lepus

Constellation
List of stars in Lepus
Abbreviation	Lep
Genitive	Leporis
Pronunciation	⫽ˈliːpəs⫽, or colloquially ⫽ˈlɛpəs⫽; genitive ⫽ˈlɛpərɪs⫽
Symbolism	the Hare
Right ascension	04h 55m 02.2311s–06h 12m 51.7500s[1]
Declination	−10.8138046°–−27.2787991°[1]
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 (⫽ˈliːpəs⫽, colloquially ⫽ˈlɛpəs⫽) is a constellation lying just south of the celestial equator. Its name is Latin for hare. It is located below—immediately south—of Orion (the hunter), and is sometimes represented as a hare being chased by Orion or by Orion's hunting dogs.^[2]

Although the hare does not represent any particular figure in Greek mythology, Lepus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations.