LEPUS
The Hare
(Lep)

Generalities: it is a small constellation included in the southern sky, but not far from the celestial equator. It forms a characteristic figure. Its transit at midnight takes place in December.
Origins and mythology: it is one of the original constellations. It was set near Orion who, being a great hunter, loved hare hunting .
Stars: in the Hare there are two stars of average brightness under magnitude 3, and other six under magnitude 4. The star alpha, named Arneb, has magnitude 2.58, it is of orange color and far, in fact it is over 900 light-years far. The star beta is called Nihal, it has magnitude 2.84, yellow color and it is nearer in comparison with alpha, being 115 light-years far.
Table of stars brighter than magnitude
3.5
| Star | Proper name | Magnitude | Spectrum | Colour | Distance (light-years) | Notes |
| Alpha | Arneb | 2.58 | F0 | white-yellow | 945 | |
| Beta | Nihal | 2.84 | G2 | yellow | 315 | |
| Epsilon | 3.19 | K5 | orange-red | 163 | ||
| Mu | 3.31 | B9 | white | 215 |
Other objects:
it contains M79, the only remarkable globular cluster visible during the
northern winter.