The constellation Lepus is located just south of the celestial equator. Hare is its Latin name. It is depicted as a hare being chased by Orion or Orion's hunting dogs and is placed below—immediately south—of Orion (the hunter).
Despite the fact that the hare does not symbolise any specific individual in Greek mythology, Lepus was one of the 48 constellations enumerated by Ptolemy in the second century, and it is still one of the 88 contemporary constellations. |
History and Mythology
The most common depiction of Lepus is as a hare being pursued by Orion's hunting dogs (Canis Major and Canis Minor). The Moon rabbit is also related with the constellation. (Ridpath & Tirion 2001)
This constellation's four stars (α, β, γ, δ Lep) form a quadrilateral and are known in Arabic as 'Arsh al-Jawz', "the Throne of Jawz'," or Kursiyy al-Jawzā' al-Mu'akhkhar, "the Hindmost Chair of Jawzā'," and al-Nihāl, "the Camels Quenching Their Thirst."
The most common depiction of Lepus is as a hare being pursued by Orion's hunting dogs (Canis Major and Canis Minor). The Moon rabbit is also related with the constellation. (Ridpath & Tirion 2001)
This constellation's four stars (α, β, γ, δ Lep) form a quadrilateral and are known in Arabic as 'Arsh al-Jawz', "the Throne of Jawz'," or Kursiyy al-Jawzā' al-Mu'akhkhar, "the Hindmost Chair of Jawzā'," and al-Nihāl, "the Camels Quenching Their Thirst."
Deep-sky Objects
Messier 79 (M79) – Globular Cluster
IC 418 – Spirograph Nebula – Planetary Nebula
Main stars - 8
Bayer stars - 20
Stars with planets - 3
Stars brighter than magnitude 3.00 - 2
Stars within 32 Ly - 3
Bordering
constellations
Messier 79 (M79) – Globular Cluster
IC 418 – Spirograph Nebula – Planetary Nebula
Main stars - 8
Bayer stars - 20
Stars with planets - 3
Stars brighter than magnitude 3.00 - 2
Stars within 32 Ly - 3
Bordering
constellations
- Orion
- Monoceros
- Canis Major
- Columba
- Caelum
- Eridanus