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Constellations:
Leo the Lion

Genitive: Leonis
Abbr: Leo

Leo is one of the Zodiac constellations. It is at its highest point in the sky on the 1st of April, and is very easy to find. It looks like a lion. A group of bright stars shaped like a backwards question mark ("The Sickle") forms the lion’s mane, and a right triangle makes up his hind quarter and tail.

The Chinese called it the Yellow Dragon and a horse, but most of the world called it a lion.

In Greek mythology, Leo the lion monster was raised by Hera to ravage the region of Nemea. Heracles first Labor was to slay this lion. After killing the lion with his club, he skinned it with its own claw to make a helmet and cape. To honor Heracles, Zeus placed the lion in the sky.

The Egyptians watched the constellation closely because the yearly Nile flood started as the sun entered this constellation.

Exploring in Leo

Note: The chart included here provides only a rough guide to the constellation. To follow the detailed description, refer to charts 6, 12 & 13 in Tirion’s Sky Atlas 2000 (or equivalent).

Starting at the bottom of the backward question mark is Alpha (a) Leonis, named Regulus by Nicolas Copernicus. Regulus (pronounced REG-you-luss) means the Little King and is often called the Lion's heart. It is the primary star in a triple system with Regulus B and it's companion Regulus C. Due to its closeness to the ecliptic Regulus is regularly occulted by the moon.

Heading NE from Regulus is Gamma (g) Leonis, known as Algieba (al-GEE-bah). The name is believed to mean "the Brow" or "Forehead" of the Lion. About ½° east of Algieba are NGCs 3226 and 3227. You will know these interacting galaxies by their resemblance to an exclamation point.

Return to Regulus and move east approx. half way to Theta (q) Leonis. This area is full of galaxies including M95, M96 & M105. Also in this group are NGCs 3384 & 3389. From here, if you have a scope over 8in., move about 1/3 of a finder scope view north to 52-k Leonis. This star sits in the midst of a very dim group of galaxies NGCs 3412, 3346, 3367, 3377, 3377A, 3338 & 3300. All of these galaxies are south of 52-k except NGC 3346 & NGC 3300.

Continue east to Theta Leonis (Chort). Chort is the western apex of the triangle forming the rear haunches. About 2½° SSE of Chort is a red 5.32 magnitude star, 73-n Leonis. With this in the finder, you will also have four galaxies: M65, M66, and NGCs 3593 & 3628. The hindquarters of Leo are marked by Theta Leonis (Chort), Delta (d) Leonis (Zosma), to the north; and Beta (b) Leonis, known as Denebola (de-NEB-o-la) to the east. In the center of this triangle, there are two other clusters of galaxies ranging in magnitudes from 10.0 to 13.5. These galaxies consist of a western group, NGCs 3626, 3608, 3607, 3605 & 3659. And the eastern group containing NGCs 3686, 3684, 3691, 3681 & 3655. These galaxies are faint and small so you will need a dark area to view them. This is a good place to work on your Averted Vision.

Leo has many more galaxies and multiple star systems than I have listed here, however this should get you started. A good star chart will help you find the rest.

Happy Star-Hopping…Eric Reichenbach

Copyrighted © 2000 by Stockton Astronomical Society
Lasted Updated: 11/20/2000
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