Question

What is the largest constellation?
A) Indus
B) Dorado
C) Hydra
D) Cetus

Answer 1

Hint: When a collection of stars appear in the sky, to create an outline or pattern that represents an animal, mythical character, human or creature, or a non-living item in the celestial realm is considered as a constellation. This word originates from a Latin word that means a set of stars.

Complete answer:
• Hydra, Virgo, Ursa Major, Cetus, and Hercules are the biggest constellations in the sky.
• Ursa Major, Hercules, Pegasus, Draco, and Leo are the greatest northern constellations, whereas Hydra, Virgo, Cetus, Eridanus, and Centaurus are the largest southern constellations.
• All of these are Greek constellations, which Ptolemy included in his Almagest in the second century AD. They've been around since the beginning of time.
• Hydra is the largest of the 88 contemporary constellations, is 1303 square degrees in size and resembles a twisting serpent stretching from Cancer in the north to Libra and Centaurus in the south.
• Its brightest star, the orange giant Alphard, has an apparent magnitude of 2.0, making it only fairly bright.
• Spica, the 16th brightest star in the sky, can be found in Virgo, another constellation that is much simpler to spot than Hydra. The arc of the Big Dipper's handle may be used to find Spica. It's the second bright star after Arcturus in its imaginary line.

Therefore, the correct option is (C).

Note: There has been a list of 88 recognised constellations till date. Hercules, Hydra, Ursa Major, Cetus, Virgo and Leo are just a few of the notable constellations visible from Earth. These constellations are primarily imagined forms and shapes. Many officially recognised constellations are based on ancient Eastern and Mediterranean myths. Orion's Belt, for example, seems to be a perfectly straight line and some constellations are imagined to have a ‘U’ shape.