Leo, the Lion (Leo)
(LEE-oh)
The Northern constellation of Leo, the Lion, is best viewed in Spring during the month of April. It's brightest star is Regulus at magnitude 1.35. The boundary of the Leo constellation contains 19 stars that host known exoplanets.
Wolf-359 is the 5th closest star to Earth at 7.86 light years.
- Pronunciation:
- LEE-oh
- Meaning:
- Lion
- Genitive:
- Leonis
- Abbreviation:
- Leo
- Asterism:
- Sickle
- Constellation Family:
- Zodiacal
- Hemisphere:
- Northern
- Quadrant:
- NQ2
- Best viewing month*:
- April
- Right Ascension (avg):
- 10h 0m
- Declination (avg):
- 7° 0'
- Meteor showers:
- Leonids
- Brightest star:
- Regulus (1.35)
- Stars with planets:
- 19
Brightest Stars in Leo
The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Leo by magnitude.
- Star
- Magnitude
- Spectral class
- Alpha Leonis (α Leo)
- 1.36
- B7V
- Beta Leonis (β Leo)
- 2.14
- A3Vvar
- Gamma Leonis (γ1 Leo)
- 2.37
- K0III
- Delta Leonis (δ Leo)
- 2.56
- A4V
- Epsilon Leonis (ε Leo)
- 2.97
- G0II
- Theta Leonis (θ Leo)
- 3.33
- A2V
- Zeta Leonis (ζ Leo)
- 3.43
- F0III
- Eta Leonis (η Leo)
- 3.48
- A0Ib
- Omicron Leonis (ο Leo A)
- 3.52
- A5V+
- Omicron Leonis (ο Leo B)
- 3.7
Double Stars in Leo
These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Leo. Also see all star clusters.
- Star system
- Magnitudes
- Type
- Alpha Leonis
- 1.4, 8.2
- double
- Gamma Leonis
- 2.4, 3.6
- double
- 54 Leonis
- 4.5, 6.3
- double
Nebulae in Leo
Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Leo. Also see all nebulae.
Galaxies in Leo
The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find galaxies in the constellation Leo. Also see all galaxies.
- Galaxy name
- Alt name
- Galaxy type
- Copeland Septet
- galaxy group
- Leo III
- irregular
- Leo I
- spheroidal dwarf
- Leo II
- spheroidal dwarf
- Leo Triplet
- M65/66
- galaxy group
Milky Way Satellites in Leo
Dwarf satellite galaxies that orbit the Milky Way Galaxy located in the constellation Leo. Also see all Milky Way satellite galaxies.
- Galaxy name
- Alt name
- Magnitude
- Leo I
- 11.2
- Leo II
- 12.6
- Leo IV
- Leo T
- Leo V
- Segue 1
Neutron Stars in Leo
These are the most well-known neutron stars in the constellation Leo. Although neutron stars cannot be seen in any amateur telescope, they are at the center of many supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Also see all neutron stars.
* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.
** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).