Lepus (constellation)
| Constellation | |
| Abbreviation | Lep |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Leporis |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːpəs/, or colloquially /ˈlɛpəs/; genitive /ˈlɛpərɪs/ |
| Symbolism | the Hare |
| Right ascension | 04h 55m 02.2311s–06h 12m 51.7500s |
| Declination | −10.8138046°–−27.2787991° |
| 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 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.
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.