Beta Hydrae, in the same field of vision of xi Hydrae (binoculars) isn't, as one might think, the second brightest star in Hydra. It's only a 4.6 visual magnitude, with a 5.6 companion, which is even fainter than xi Hydrae.

Beta Hydrae marks the southern-most point of the Hydra's body and at a declination of almost -34º it won't be visible for much of North America.

Two constellations are found in the 'pocket' formed by this long southern loop of the serpent -- Crater and Corvus. The more useful of these, as we procede along the serpent's back, is Corvus, The Crow.

At beta Hydrae draw a line over to Spica, alpha Virgo, which is to the northeast. Nearly half-way along this line you'll cross the bright star beta Corvi.

In the same field as beta Corvi is the Messier object, M68, a globular cluster containing over a hundred thousand stars: binoculars.