Leo the Lion

Mythology

One of the earliest representations of this group of stars as a lion is the Dendera planisphere, a large sandstone medallion on the ceiling of the temple of Isis. This star map is believed to date back to the first century BC during the time of Cleopatra. From about 2000 BC to the time of the Dendera planisphere, the Sun occupied the region of Leo during the oppressive summer months. According to Greek and Roman myth, the lion is said to represent the horrible Nemean Lion that Hercules was challenged to kill.

For the Observer

Alpha Leonis, Regulus

(10h98m +11°58') is a 1.4 magnitude blue-white class B7 star about 85 light years distant. Regulus has an 8th magnitude companion of class K1. It appears as a deep yellow color. The companion too, is a double but with a magnitude of 13, they are a difficult pair.

Beta Leonis, Denebola (11h49m +14°34') is a 2.1 magnitude blue-white class A3 star about 42 light years distant. The star is part of a binary system but the companion is 16th magnitude and difficult to separate.

Gamma Leonis, Algeiba(10h20m +19°51') is a 2.2 magnitude yellow giant class K0 star about 110 light years distant. It is a binary system with the companion being a 3.5 magnitude. They give a combined magnitude of 1.9. Algeiba is also slightly variable with a variation of 0.15 magnitude.

Delta Leonis, Zosma (11h14m +20°31') is a 2.6 magnitude blue-white Class A4 star about 80 light years away.

Zeta Leonis, Aldhafera (10h13m.9 +23°40') has a magnitude of 3.44 and is a class F0 star. There is an optical companion with a magnitude of 5.8. It is a G2 class star.

M65 (NGC3623) (11h16m.3 +13°23') is a spiral galaxy with a magnitude of about 9. The galaxy is about 35 million light years distant. M65 appears large with tightly wound arms.

M66 (NGC3627)(11h17m.6 +13°17') is a spiral galaxy with a magnitude of 5.5. Dark dust lanes give the galaxy a clumpy appearance. It is easily found in a 5 inch telescope.

M95 (NGC3351) (10h41m.3 +11°58') is a barred spiral galaxy, quite striking in appearance since the barred arms are nearly circular. The galaxy is about 25 million light years distant.

M96 (NGC3368) (10h44m.2 +12°05') is a spiral galaxy less than a degree from M95. The galaxy is fairly bright in the center but the arms are

M105 (NGC 3379) (10h 45.2 +12°51') is a very small dim elliptical galaxy with a magnitude of 10. It is quite difficult to find except in larger scopes.

Photographing Meteor Showers

Mythology

For the Observer

Constellations

The Solar System