Most constellations are nothing like what their names indicate. In the constellation Pegasus, for example, it is difficult to recognize the legendary winged horse, and in the constellation Lynx - a forest predator.
Another thing is Leo. It only takes a little imagination to find and recognize the king of beasts in the drawing of its brightest stars. The figure of this constellation is so simple and expressive that it is instantly remembered. Therefore, Leo is often used to search for neighboring constellations, which are far from being so expressive.
But how to find the constellation Leo in the starry sky?
First, let's agree When we will look for him. Let's search in the evening, because in the evening it is easier to do this than at night or early in the morning (usually at night we are already sleeping, and in the morning we are in a hurry to study or work).
In the evenings, the constellation Leo can be observed starting in February. At this time, Leo rises in the east just after dusk, and late in the evening is observed in the southeast.
On February evenings, the constellation Leo rises late at night in the east. Pattern: Stellarium
A special sign by which you immediately distinguish Leo from other constellations is great trapezoid of four stars. In size, it is almost equal to the bucket of the Big Dipper, and the brightness of the stars of these two celestial figures is quite comparable. The most bright Star The trapezoid of Leo is in its lower right corner. This Regulus, the main star of the constellation and the twentieth brightest star in the entire night sky.
You don't need any special guidelines to find a trapezoid - it will immediately catch your eye, you just have to look in the right direction! As I said, in February, the trapezoid is visible in the evenings in the east and southeast, but - pay attention! - in an inclined position.
Constellation Leo on evening sky in March is in the southeast. Pattern: Stellarium
The most convenient time to observe the constellation Leo is spring especially its first half. In March, at dusk, the constellation Leo appears in the southeast, being quite high in the sky - halfway between the horizon and the zenith.
Even higher, the constellation Leo is observed on April evenings. At this time, it is observed in the south and is the full owner of the spring sky, since the constellations surrounding it are very dim. Only two stars - Arcturus and Spica - are brighter than Regula in the spring sky. But the constellations of these stars - Bootes and Virgo - are rather indistinct. The trapezium of Leo in April is visible in a horizontal position, so finding it in the sky is quite easy.
By the way, if you still doubt that you can independently detect the constellation Leo in the sky, keep a guideline: Leo is under the Big Dipper bucket! With this in mind, you will quickly find the Leo constellation at any time of the day or year, as long as it is above the horizon at that moment.
In spring, the Big Dipper is almost at the zenith, and the constellation Leo is below it in the southern side of the sky. Pattern: Stellarium
It gets dark late in May; the constellation Leo appears in the evenings in the southwest and spends only a few hours in the sky, after which it sets below the horizon.
And here you can ask: why was the constellation Leo named after the king of the beasts, and not just the Trapezoid?
When you find the constellation Leo in the sky, take a closer look at it. Above the right edge of the trapezoid, you will probably notice three more stars, which, together with Regulus and the star of Algieb (upper right in the trapezoid), form a figure that looks like a question mark looking the other way. This drawing has long been popularly called the Sickle for its resemblance to an old peasant instrument.
Asterism Sickle Lion. The handle of the sickle is marked by Regulus, and the stars Algieba, Adhafera, Rasalas and Epsilon Leo mark the sickle itself. On ancient maps, the front paws, chest and head of a lying predator were depicted here. Pattern: Stellarium
But also in this figure you can see both the chest and the head of the Lion! It seems that the predator is lying with his head up and looking somewhere in the distance to the west.
By the way, on a dark and transparent night in the sky you can see lion tail. But we'll talk about this stellar drawing later.
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Quote message Constellation Leo in astronomy, astrology and legends
From July 23 to August 22, Leo rules the zodiac. After all, the lion is really a regal animal, personifying strength and power, which does not tolerate competition.
Meanwhile, in astronomy, the Constellations of Leo are two located side by side. On celestial atlases, astronomers placed them side by side, since it was believed that the Small Lion should be similar in its influence to the Big Lion. In the Northern Hemisphere, they can almost always be seen, although they are especially well visible in the spring - in February and March.
The close proximity of these constellations in the night sky does not give reason to consider them under the general name "Constellation of Lions". Most often they are mentioned separately.
Constellation Leo Minor Leo Minor is located between Ursa Major and Leo - this is a very small constellation that contains 34 stars. This constellation is not as remarkable as its older brother.
The discovery of the Small Lion was made by Jan Hevelius in 1610. He was the first to place the constellation in his atlas "Uranography".
Drawing of the constellation Leo from the atlas of Jan Hevelius.
The Big Lion is better known. And not in vain. After all, the Big Lion has much more reasons to boast. Its brightest star Regulus (translated from Latin as “king”) is 160 times brighter than our Sun and about 3 times larger than it. Sometimes it is also called the "Heart of the Lion" (Cor Leonis).
At the base of the "lion's head" is the brightest star Algieba (γ Leo), which means "lion's mane". In January 2001, a large object eight times the size of Jupiter was discovered orbiting Algieba.
The arrangement of bright stars really resembles a recumbent lion, whose head and chest represent the well-known asterism "Sickle", similar to a mirrored question mark.
The triangle of stars at the back of the figure of Leo begins with the star Denebola (β Leo), which means "lion's tail". In total, there are about 70 stars in its composition, but most of them are faintly visible.
There are a number of luminous galaxies within Leo, including the Leo Threes M66, M65 and NGC 3628. The Leo Ring is a cloud of hydrogen and helium orbiting two dwarf galaxies. In mid-November, you can also observe the Leonid meteor shower, the maximum of which falls on November 17th.
The constellation Leo is one of the earliest recognized constellations.. The Mesopotamians are known to have documented this constellation under the name "Lion". The Persians called it as "Ser" or "Shir"; Turks as "Artan"; Syrians as "Aryo"; Jewish nation as "Arye"; The Indians called this constellation "Simha". All these names are translated as "Lion".
Lysippus Great Greek sculptor of the early Hellenistic era (4th century BC)
The constellation Leo represents the Nemean Lion who was killed by Hercules in the first of his 12 labors. This murder was in retaliation for the murder of his family. According to Greek mythology, the Lion lived in a mountain valley near the Argolid city of Nemea, raging throughout the area and killing the inhabitants. The lion was of enormous growth and remarkable strength, and his skin was so hard that neither iron, nor bronze, nor stone could pierce it.
Fresco in Pompeii depicting Hercules fighting the Nemean lion
On the way to Nemea, Hercules stopped at the farmer Molorch. They agreed that if the hero did not return after 30 days, Molorkh would sacrifice his last ram to the owners of Hades. If Hercules has time to return, then the ram will be sacrificed to Zeus. It took the hero exactly 30 days to find the cave where the Nemean lion lived. He blocked one of the entrances to it with stones, hid near the other and waited for the monster to appear. At sunset, he saw a lion and shot three arrows in a row at him, but none of them pierced the skin. The lion rushed at Hercules, but he hit him with a club made of an ash tree cut down in a Nemean grove, and then strangled the beast, stunned by the blow. And then he ascended to Heaven as one of his conquests.
Relief of the front wall of a marble sarcophagus
A very long time ago, about 4.5 thousand years ago, in the constellation Leo was the point of the summer solstice, in the southern countries at that time the strongest heat reigned, so for many nations Leo became a symbol of fire. The Assyrians called it the Great Fire.
In Egypt, during this period of the summer solstice, the Nile began to flood. Therefore, the locks of the locks that directed the waters of this river through the canals to the fields were made in the form of a lion's head. And now in the fountains a stream of water pours out of the lion's mouth, and where this tradition comes from - no one even thinks ... 
Astrology is not a science, but according to its laws, Leo is the fifth constellation of the Zodiac, corresponding to the sector of the ecliptic from 120 ° to 150 °, counting from the vernal equinox.
IN western astrology It is believed that the Sun is in the sign of Leo from approximately July 23 to August 21. The sign of Leo should not be confused with the constellation Leo, in which the Sun is located from August 10 to September 15.
Lion symbol:
Sign Type: Fire
Leo Planet: Sun
Lucky Color: Gold, Orange, White, Red
Leo Flowers: Sunflower
Lion Stone: Chrysolite
Leo is considered a masculine sign, an extrovert. Every Leo is born with luck in their hands, just as love conquers all adversity.
Lions are divided into two groups. The first are those who like status more than money, and the second is the opposite. But if Leo is ruled by the heart, then he is able to overcome any life difficulties.
Lions, like all born leaders, do not know peace. Both in the spiritual realm and in the material realm, those born under the sign of the zodiac Leo are constantly striving to create something new. In order to achieve their goals, Leo will spend a lot of money, time and knowledge, with little or no care for himself.
Lviv is very drawn to opposite sex, but they are ruined by excessive gullibility. Leo can often become a victim of deception, because he trusts other people like himself.
Lions don't change. If they find out that their soulmate is sinning with this, then a disappointed Leo can forget about love. Leos hate when they are blatantly lied to. If a person born under this Sign finds out that you lied to him, you can say goodbye to him forever. You will never return Leo's respect in this case.
Lions will stand up for their friends or loved ones. They are not afraid of anyone and nothing, fearlessly rushing at the offender, tearing him into small pieces. In part, this happens because the Lions think that you are from the property, but the root cause is not known even to them. It's just that something happens inside them at such moments, through which they become stronger and more courageous.
Lions are very bold and very dynamic, but, despite this, less than others suffer from injuries and injuries. This also applies to driving a car - Lions are the least likely to get into an accident according to statistics. Experts say that the confidence and composure of their character are to blame for everything.
Leos remain calm even in the most unusual situations. When everyone is running and yelling with their hands up, these people are calmly solving the problem. Well... or try, at least. Only human stupidity can unbalance them... or a long wait.
Leos hate to wait. This zodiac sign is less than others can sit in line. If Leo is sitting in line with you together, then he can be simply unbearable. This is perhaps the only situation that should be avoided while being around a Leo.
Lions adore luxury, which emphasizes their status, but this is not necessarily manifested in everything. There is something so important to them that they will never give up. Someone likes to eat in a restaurant, someone likes to drive an expensive car, someone loves chic clothes. For this they are able to sacrifice anything.
Leos always have a fairly high opinion of themselves. Their weakness is their pride, such people melt with flattery and this is probably the easiest way to their heart, but the slightest criticism will close the possibility of peaceful coexistence.
Such are the Lions.
There are three levels of soul development for people born under the sign of Leo. The highest is represented by the Sphinx - it is wise not to the weather, a mythical creature, a great teacher and mentor. The second is Leo, the king of the jungle, who rules the Leo's ego, but always acts in defense and support of those he loves. And the last level is the Lion cub, immature, unformed, frightened by everything new baby.
- second fire sign Zodiac ruled by the Sun. Lions strive for power, leadership, subjugation of all to their will. They are excessively proud, ambitious and, having achieved their goal, become condescending and arrogant. Astrologers call the constellation Leo a royal sign, believing that people born under this sign are distinguished by courage, the ability to manage people, nobility, dignity and love for regalia. However, in modern world, which destroyed the reign of kings, the Lions do not reach those prestigious positions in society that they reached before.
Now they are not even able to climb the corporate ladder, because on their way they constantly meet stronger and more competitive colleagues. Modern society actually exterminated the lions - they were caught in traps and killed. Today, people born under other constellations often show a similar attitude towards Leo.
ruling planet- Sun.
Element- Fire.
Colors- purple, gold, orange, scarlet, black (white color - unsuccessful)
stones– amber, chrysolite, topaz, ruby, onyx, diamond, esmerald
Flowers- peonies, marigolds, gladioli, chrysanthemums
Metal- gold
Favorable numbers — 1, 5, 9, 11
Happy Days- Sunday
bad days- Saturday
Climate- warm or tropical is especially favorable for Leo. Lions cannot stand rural and provincial life, preferring to live in large central cities.
Professions — public relations, theater, politics, administrative posts.
Famous people born under the sign of Leo: Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Margaret, B. Shaw, Shelley, Napoleon, Mussolini, Hitchcock.
Physical features: usually tall, broad-boned, with a proudly planted head on a sinewy neck. A wide forehead, shining eyes, a power-hungry look, a sensual mouth.
Creativity and career
Lions are prone to a dramatic perception of life, and, perhaps, therefore, among those born under this sign, astrologers find those who have connected their lives with theatrics. There are many actors, directors, producers, theater administrators among Lions. Lions are well versed in situations where it is necessary to “show the product with its face”. They are particularly good at window dressing, modeling and cooking.
Lions are prone to amateurish pursuits, and therefore, despite their talents and hard work, they sometimes do not achieve their intended goals. For Leo, it is necessary to combine his creative profession with a practical lesson. Often Leos, especially women, prefer to work at home. But in order to succeed at home, people born under the constellation Leo need to feel the presence of a person who inspires them to creative activity. And yet, domestic work will never satisfy Leo's ambitions, since he sees his destiny in ruling the world, and not a modest home. Leos know the taste of real power and strength, and that's why they crave glory with such impatience. Many born under this sign satisfy their ambitions in administrative work. Being a boss, subordinating people to oneself is more important for Leo than benefiting society.
Business
Lions love not money itself, but a luxurious life on a royal scale. When shopping, they do not want to know what and how the money was spent. They just love to spend them, and each new purchase saves them from another bout of hysteria or depression. Spending money for Leos is the same drug that satisfies their need for a prestigious lifestyle and inaccessible pleasures.
Leos often imitate those who have achieved fame and power, and this is especially true of investments that Leos make by imitating the behavior of some familiar banker or business owner. But, as usual, people of this circle do not share the secrets of their investments and stock exchange manipulations, leaving Leo, for whom business is nothing more than a secular game, with nothing.
Astrologers do not advise people born under the constellation Leo to invest in business ventures money collected through savings and savings. The surest investments for Leo are real estate and savings programs that give a small but solid percentage.
Astrologers joke that in business, as, indeed, in life in general, those born under the constellation Leo can find no fewer partners and friends than the Chinese in China ... Leo starts a business with one companion, but gradually, losing control over what is happening, becomes a witness to the fact that his case includes at least five partners. Leo's social life, sociability and friendships run counter to business contacts and the interests of the business itself. When Leo comes to his senses and begins to understand that the time has come to come to his senses, turn off the phone, lock the doors with all the locks and hire a good lawyer, it is sometimes too late to prevent bankruptcy.
Health
The energy of the Sun, the planet that controls the constellation Leo, endowed the people of this sign with vitality, love of life, which they sometimes abuse.
Interestingly, the strength of the Lions lies precisely in their weakness and vulnerability - otherwise they would go to extremes.
Due to the constant overload, the Lions suffer from heart disease. At a more mature age, they have a tendency to severe heart disease, seizures and heart attacks. Leos need to accustom themselves to a relaxed state in order to avoid tension and stress.
By nature, Leos are strong and healthy people. They rarely get sick and most often die suddenly.
Love and sex
Lions like to love and fall in love, and without love awe, these dramatic natures cannot imagine life. Love for them is most often a dramatic situation: a unique first love, an unforgettable last love ... Moreover, Leos like the romance of love itself. They are not so much looking for an outlet for their loneliness and feelings of insecurity in love, but they play out their love drama in life.
In love, Leo, like no other sign of the Zodiac, shows his "I". He asserts himself in the world through love, afraid to admit that in fact he is tormented by self-doubt, in his strength and ability to power. Male lions never give the appearance that mental anguish and suffering are also characteristic of them: they believe that orders, rude shouts and unlimited power over people are a sign of “male” behavior.
Leo women adore light flirting and coquetry. Rarely do they have strong, deep feelings. Even with the most luxurious lovers, they feel lonely, compensating for their emotional inferiority in the pursuit of fame and prestige.
In marriage, Leos, like no other sign of the Zodiac, show emotional and mental immaturity. They know how and love to take, but they do not understand the pleasure that a person receives from what he gives, from a sense of reciprocity and overcoming selfish instincts.
For Lviv, for whom love is most often a form of self-affirmation and social recognition, the erotic sphere is underdeveloped. Women born under this sign often hide their frigidity, and men are closed and reserved, like people of the Victorian era.
At the same time, all Leos demand royal respect in love, marriage and sex.
How are you together...
People born under the constellation Leo are usually compatible with people born under the constellations Libra, Sagittarius, Aries and Gemini, especially in marriage and business relationships. Those born under the constellation Leo show a particular incompatibility with people born under the signs of Scorpio, Taurus and Aquarius.
- Leo with Aries- beautiful couple. Aries loves to be dominated.
- Leo with Taurus Relationships are full of conflicts and contradictions.
- Leo with Gemini- sympathy and understanding.
- Leo with Cancer- Opposite characters.
- lion with lion- both strive for power, and this becomes the basis for conflicts.
- Leo with Virgo- most often uneven relations, but there is a possibility of mutual cooperation.
- Leo with Libra- mutual understanding based on love for social life and entertainment.
- Leo with Scorpio- both are eager to dominate, and neither can yield.
- Leo with Sagittarius- mutual understanding and good sexual compatibility.
- Leo with Capricorn- rivalry, a different approach to problems, but, despite this, mutual understanding and even friendship.
- Leo with Aquarius- with dissimilarity of characters, cooperation and mutual understanding is possible.
- Lion with Pisces- lack of mutual understanding and acute ideological conflicts.
And Cancer. Ursa Major, Lesser Lion, Bowl and Sextant also settled nearby. The location of the brightest stars in the cluster, indeed, is somewhat reminiscent of a lying animal. IN Ancient Greece The lion represented strength and ferocity. At that distant time, there were a lot of these powerful predators on the Balkan Peninsula. It is now that almost all of them have been exterminated, and the miserable remnants of Asiatic lions live only in the Gir reserve (India). But then, not now.
One of these formidable predators was the Nemean lion. He lived in the mountains near the city of Nemea (Peloponnese) and terrified the surroundings. No one could defeat the beast, but then Hercules appeared. He fearlessly entered into a fight with a lion and strangled him with his own hands. To perpetuate this feat, Zeus laid out the stars in the sky in the form of a lion figure. Since that time, a cluster of stars has been shining on the celestial sphere, symbolizing the victory of the son of Zeus over a ferocious animal.
The brightest star in the constellation is the blue-white star Regulus.. It is also one of the brightest stars in the night sky. From the Earth to it within easy reach. The distance is only about 78 light years. The luminary consists of 4 stars, which are combined into 2 pairs. One contains a blue-white Main Sequence star and a white dwarf. In the second pair, 2 dim stars of the Main Sequence coexist in unison.
Regulus practically "lies" on the ecliptic, so it is often covered by the Moon and less often by such planets as Venus and Mercury. The main white-blue star, which makes this system as bright as possible, exceeds the solar mass by 3.5 times, and exceeds our star by 160 times in brightness. The shape of the star is oblate due to the very rapid rotation around its own axis. From Latin, Regulus is translated as "little king", and the Arabs called the luminary the "Heart of a Lion".
In the back of the predator snugly nestled in the night sky is Star of Denebola. From Arabic, the name translates as "lion's tail". The luminary is considered the third brightest in the constellation. It belongs to the Main Sequence. Almost 2 times the mass of the Sun and 12 times brighter. It is separated from the Earth by 36 light years. Denebola is a Delta Scuti variable star. Its brightness changes slightly over several hours.
On the lion's mane, when he turns his head, is a golden yellow star Algieba. In translation, the name means "lion's mane". The luminary consists of 2 stars. The luminosity of the main component is 180 times greater than the solar one, and the diameter is 23 times greater. The second star shines 50 times brighter than the Sun, and its diameter is 10 times larger. They revolve around a common center with an orbital period of 500 years. They are 126 light-years away from the blue planet.
There are also several other bright stars. Zeta Leo or Adhafera is in a thick lion's mane. This is a giant white star, the brightness of which is 85 times greater than the sun. It is 3 times heavier than the Sun, and its radius is 6 times larger. It is located at a distance of 274 light years from our planet.
Diagram of the constellation Leo
One of the closest stars to the Earth is Wolf (wolf) 359. This is a red dwarf. It is separated from the blue planet by 7.8 light years. It belongs to the so-called flaring variable stars. They are characterized by the fact that an unpredictable sharp increase in brightness can occur within a few minutes. The increase in brightness lies in the spectrum from X-rays to radio waves. Outbreaks usually occur at intervals of several days. The star is relatively young. Its age does not exceed 1 billion years, and the luminosity is 100 thousand times less than the solar one.
Of great interest is the star Kaffau or SDSS J102915 + 172927. Found it in the galactic halo. It is described in detail in the American journal "Nature" for September 2011. The fact is that this luminary has an age of 13 billion years. It is one of the oldest stars in the Milky Way. Its mass is 0.8 solar. This cosmic body has a deficiency of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and is completely devoid of lithium.
As we all well know, oxygen and carbon play a decisive role in the formation of low-mass stars. Therefore, the very principles of formation and existence of Kaffau are a mystery. The search for similar stars is currently underway. It is assumed that in space there can be from 5 to 50.
beyond the stars The constellation Leo contains many bright galaxies.. These are M65, M66, M95, M96, M105. M65 is a spiral galaxy. It is located at a distance of 35 million light years from Earth. It was discovered in 1780 by the French astronomer Charles Messier (1730-1817). She is part of the so-called Leo Triplet. These are three star formations - M65, M66, NGS 3628. From the Earth, the galaxy is visible as a small elliptical spot with a bright core. Nearby is the less elongated M66, and to the side is the much fainter NGS 3628. These celestial formations are clearly visible in a small telescope.
M95 is a spiral galaxy discovered in 1781 by the French astronomer Pierre Méchamp (1744-1804). This stellar system is notable for the fact that near its core are ring-shaped regions of star formation. The galaxy belongs to the Messier group of objects, which also includes M96 and M105. Its distance to the Earth is 38 million years. M95 and M96 are spiral galaxies, while M105 is an elliptical. At the center of the latter is a supermassive black hole.
Our Sun, "moving" along the ecliptic, "enters" the constellation Leo on August 10, and "leaves" it on September 15. That is, it has been in the grip of a formidable predator for more than a month. But the beast does nothing wrong with it, and the luminary continues on its way, giving earthlings life, light and warmth..
| a lion | |
|---|---|
| Lat. Name | Leo |
| Reduction | Leo |
| Symbol | a lion |
| right ascension | from 9 h 15 m to 11 h 52 m |
| declination | -6° 00' to +33° 30' |
| Square | 947 sq. degrees (12th place) |
| brightest stars (value< 3 m ) |
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| meteor showers |
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| neighboring constellations |
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| The constellation is visible at latitudes from +84° to -56°. The best time for observation is February, March. |
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Holds 5 Messier objects: (M65, NGC 3623), (M66, NGC 3627), (M95, NGC 3351), (M96, NGC 3368) and (M105, NGC 3379), as well as 11 stars with planets.
The brightest star is Regulus, whose apparent magnitude reaches magnitude 1.35. There are two meteor showers. Peak Leonid falls on November 17-18 and they shine brightly near the star of Algieba. The January Leonids are a small shower, peaking on January 1-7.
Leo is included in the group of zodiac constellations (12 signs of the zodiac), where you can also find,, and. Consider the scheme of the constellation Leo on the starry sky map.
The myth of the constellation Leo
Considered one of the oldest celestial constellations. Information from archeology proves that a constellation similar to Leo was found in Mesopotamia as early as 4000 BC. The Persians called it Shir (Sher), the Babylonians - UR.GU.LA ("great lion"), the Syrians - Arya, and the Turks - Artan.
In Babylon, they also knew about the star Regulus, about which they said: "the one that stands at the lion's chest" or "the star of the king." The constellation and the brightest star have been noted in many cultures.
The Greeks saw in him the Nemean lion, which Hercules killed. This story served as the first feat. Erastofen and Gigin wrote that the lion was placed in the sky because it is the king of beasts.
The mythical lion lived in a cave in Nemeia (southwest of Corinth). He was dangerous because he preyed on people. No one was able to kill him, as the skin did not succumb to any known weapon. Hercules tried to use the arrows, but they bounced off. Then he drove him into a cave and strangled him. To remove the skin, he used the claws of the beast, after which he wore it as a cloak for protection.
In the sky, you can see 6 bright stars in the shape of a sickle, displaying a lion's head. The brightest - Regulus marks the heart, Danebola - finished the tail, Algieba - the neck (although the name is translated as "forehead"), and Zosma - the rump.
The main stars of the constellation Leo
Explore the bright stars zodiac constellation Leo with a detailed description and characteristics.
Regulus(Alpha Leo) - with an apparent visual magnitude of 1.35, it becomes the first brightest star in the constellation and the 22nd in the sky. Located 77 light years away. This is a four-star system, represented by two pairs of stars.
Regulus A is a spectroscopic binary star consisting of a blue-white main sequence star (B7 V) and a companion star thought to be a white dwarf. They revolve around a common center of mass every 40 days.
Regulus B (K2V) and Regulus C (M4V) have a common correct movement. From Regulus A they are separated by 177 arc seconds. They are dimmer main sequence stars with apparent visual magnitudes of 8.14 and 13.5. They are located 100 AU from each other, and their common orbital period is 2000 years.
The main star Regula A is a young star, with an age of several million years, and 3.5 times the mass of the Sun. It rotates very quickly (period - 15.9 hours), which is why it formed in an oblate shape. If it were spinning 16% faster, then the centripetal force created by gravity would not be enough to keep it from collapsing.
Regulus is the closest bright star to the ecliptic, which is why it is constantly blocked by the Moon, and sometimes by Mercury and Venus. In the northern hemisphere, it is best seen in the evening in late winter and spring. But it cannot be found on August 22, as it comes too close to the Sun.
"Regulus" is Latin for "little king" or "prince". The same meant Greek name"Basiliscos", but the Arabic "Kalb al-Assad" - "the heart of a lion."
Denebola(Beta Leo) is a main sequence star (A3 V) with an apparent visual magnitude of 2.113 and a distance of 35.9 light years. It ranks second in brightness in the constellation and 61st in the sky (it can be easily found without the use of technology).
By mass, it is 75% larger than the sun, reaches 173% of its radius and is 12 times brighter. This is a Delta Shield variable (brightness may vary slightly over several hours). Denebola shows 0.025 magnitude changes in luminosity about 10 times a day.
Age - less than 400 million years. It also rotates rapidly (128 km / s), therefore it has a flattened shape. There is a significant infrared excess, which is why it is believed that there is a dust disk in orbit.
Refers to the cluster IC 2391 (its members share the same movement, but are not bound by gravity). It also includes Alpha Painter, Gomeis, and the stars in the open cluster IC 2391. "Denebola" is from the Arabic ānabab al-asad, "lion's tail."
Algieba(Gamma Leo) is a binary star represented by a giant (K1-IIIbCN0.5) and a companion (G7IIICN-I). The first object is 180 times brighter than the Sun, and the apparent visual magnitude is 2.28. The second is 50 times larger than the Sun in light with an apparent magnitude of 3.51, and also 10 times larger in diameter. Their orbital period lasts 500 years. In November 2009, a planet was found in the orbit of the giant.
The total apparent visual magnitude is 1.98, and the distance is 130 light years. It is very easy to find even in a small telescope, and under good conditions, red and greenish components are visible. "Algieba" is translated from Arabic as "forehead".
Algieba, Zeta Lion and Eta Lion are sometimes called the Sickle.
Zosma(Delta Leo) is a white main sequence star (A4 V) with a visual magnitude of 2.56 and a distance of 58.4 light years. It covers 214% of the solar radius in size and is about 15 times brighter. In 600 million years it will become a red giant. The rotation speed reaches 180 km / s, which is why its shape is flattened, and the equator is wider than the poles.
May be part of the Ursa Major moving group of stars (stars with a common origin and movement in space). "Zosma" is translated from ancient Greek as "belt" (located on the lion's thigh).
Hort(Theta Leo) is a white main sequence star (A2 V) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.324 and a mass 2.5 times that of the Sun. It is 165 light-years away from us, but visible to the naked eye.
With an age of 550 million years, it is much younger than the Sun. A huge amount of infrared radiation is noticeable, indicating the presence of a circumstellar dust disk. Rotates at a speed of 23 km / s.
There are several traditional names: Hort (Arabic for "small rib"), Coxa (Latin for "thigh") and Chertan (Arabic for "two small ribs").
kappa lion- a double star (K2III) with an apparent magnitude of 4.46 and a distance of 210 light years. The traditional name "Al-Minlyar" is translated from Arabic as "lion's face".
lambda lion- a class K5 star with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.32 and a distance of 336 light years. The traditional name "Alterf" comes from the Arabic aṭ-ṭarf - "view (of a lion)".
Omicron Lion- a double star located 135 light years away. It is represented by a giant (F9III) and a main sequence star (A5mV) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.53.
This lion- a white supergiant (A0 Ib) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.511 and a distance of 2000 light years. The star is 5600 times brighter than the Sun, and its absolute magnitude reaches -5.60. This is supposed to be part of a binary system.
Zeta Leo- a giant (F0 III) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.33 and a distance of 274 light years. 85 times brighter than the Sun. Accompanied by the optical companion 35 Leo, whose apparent visual magnitude is 5.90, and the distance from the main star is 325.9 arc seconds. The name "Adhafera" comes from the Arabic al-βafīrah, which means "curl" or "braid".
Rasalas(Mu Leo) is a K3 star with a visual magnitude of 4.1 and a distance of 133 light years. "Rasalas" is an abbreviation for the Arabic phrase ra "s al-" asad aš-šamālī, which means "northern (star) of the lion's head."
Epsilon Leo- a bright giant (G1 II) with a visual magnitude of 2.98 (the fifth brightest in the constellation) and a distance of 247 light years. Age - 162 million years. The name "Ras Elased" is taken from the Arabic phrase rās al-"asad al-janūbī - "the southern star of the lion's head". It is 288 times brighter than the Sun, 4 times more massive and 21 times larger in radius. This is a Cepheid variable with changes at 0.3 magnitude every few days.
Ro Lion- a double star with a visual magnitude of 3.856 and a distance of 5000 light years. The B1 lab classification suggests that the object has evolved to a supergiant. 21 times the solar mass, 37 times the radius, and 295,000 times brighter. Speed - 30 km / s. The main component is a blue supergiant with a companion located at 0.11 arc seconds and with a visual magnitude of 4.8.
Iota Leo- a spectroscopic binary star (F3 V) with a visual magnitude of 4.00 and a distance of 79 light years. Objects are too close, so it is difficult to see them even with a telescope.
Sigma Leo- a blue-white star (B9.5Vs), whose apparent magnitude reaches 4.044, and the distance is 210 light years.
Wolf 359- a red dwarf (M6.5Ve) with an apparent visual magnitude of 13.54 and a distance of 7.78 light years. Despite this proximity, it can only be found with a large telescope. It is one of the smallest stars ever discovered, and also one of the faintest. Releases only 0.1% of solar energy, reaches 8% mass and 16% radius. Age is less than a billion years.
This is a flare star that has a sudden increase in brightness over several minutes due to magnetic activity on the surface. Flares splash out strong gamma and x-ray radiation.
This is one of the closest stars to the Sun (only Alpha Centauri and Bernard's Star are ahead). It is often mentioned in fantasy works. Star Trek fans will recognize it as the site of the battle where Starfleet ships were destroyed.
Gliese 436- a red dwarf (M2.5 V) with a visual magnitude of 10.67 and a distance of 33.1 light years. In 2004, the exoplanet Gliese 436b was found in orbit, and in 2012, UCF-1.01.
CW Leo(IRC+10216) is a carbon star surrounded by a thick shell of dust. It is located 390-490 light years from the Sun. Demonstrates changes in brightness over 649 days. The nominal luminosity is 11,300 times that of the sun, but it is subject to a pulsation cycle (6250-15800 solar brightness). Therefore, the apparent visual magnitude also varies from 1.19 to 10.96.
It is in a late stage of development, blowing off the outer layer to transform into a white dwarf. The shell is 69,000 years old, and the star is losing more and more mass every year. The expanded envelope is believed to have at least 1.4 solar masses of ejected material.
In 1969, it was discovered by American astrophysicist Eric Breklen.
R Leo- a red giant (M8IIIe) with a visual magnitude of 4.4-11.3 and a period of 312 days. The radius is 320-350 times greater than the sun. It is a Mira variable (an advanced red pulsating variable star whose pulsation periods span more than 100 days). Eventually, it will destroy the outer shell to create a planetary nebula and become a white dwarf.
Removed by 370 light years. When it is located in the brightest place, it can be observed without the use of equipment. But in other cases, you will need at least a 7-cm telescope.
Celestial objects of the constellation Leo
(M65, NGC 3623) is an intermediate spiral galaxy with an apparent visual magnitude of 10.25 and a distance of 35 million light years. Charles Messier found her in 1780. Together with Messier 66 and NGC 3628 they form the famous Leo Triplet. The galaxy has little dust and gas, and no active star formation. Most of the stars are old.
The deformation of M65's disk, as well as some areas of star formation, hint that the galaxy is interacting with another object.
Messier 66(M66, NGC 3627) is an intermediate spiral galaxy discovered by Charles Messier in 1780. The visual magnitude is 8.9, and the distance is 36 million light years. It is 95,000 light years wide. Special attention attracted by dust lanes and bright star clusters. Part of the Leo Triplet.
M66 and NGC 3628 have collided in the past. The gravitational interaction between them has resulted in an extremely high central mass concentration in M66, a high molecular to atomic mass ratio, and allowed non-corrosive accumulation of HI material escaping from the spiral arm.
Messier 95(M95, NGC 3351) is a barred spiral galaxy with a visual magnitude of 11.4 and a distance of 38 million light-years. Surrounding the core is an annular star-forming region about 2,000 light-years across.
M95 belongs to the M96 group, which also includes M96, M105 and 9 other galaxies. In 1781, the galaxy was found by astronomer Pierre Mechain, and after 4 days Charles Messier added it to his catalog. In March 2012, a supernova was seen.
Messier 96(M96, NGC 3368) is an intermediate spiral galaxy with an apparent visual magnitude of 10.1 and a distance of 31 million light-years. Ranks first in brightness in the M96 group. It is a double-bridged helix with a slight internal bulge running through the center along with the outer bulge. Ultraviolet emissions from the central region hint at the presence of a supermassive black hole.
On March 20, 1781, Pierre Mechain found it, and a few days later Charles Messier added it to his catalog. In May 1998, a Type Ia SN 1998bu supernova was observed.
(M105, NGC 3379) is an elliptical galaxy with a visual magnitude of 10.2 and a distance of 32 million light years. Has a supermassive black hole. In March 1781, Pierre Mechain found her. This happened a few days after he first discovered M95 and M96.
NGC 3628 is an unbarred spiral galaxy 35 million light-years away. It was found by William Herschel in 1784. The object is notable for having a 300,000 light-year long tidal tail and a broad, obscuring dust lane along the outer edge of the spiral arms. Part of the Leo Triplet.
Lion Ring- a giant primordial cloud of hydrogen and helium, found in the orbit of two galaxies. In 1983 it was found by radio astronomers.
NGC 3607 is a spiral galaxy with a visual magnitude of 10.8. It belongs to the NGC 3607 group.
is a spiral galaxy with an apparent visual magnitude of 12.6.
NGC 3384- an elliptical galaxy, 35.1 million light-years distant from the Earth. In 1784, William Herschel found her. In the central part are very old stars. More than 80% are second-generation stars that are over a billion years old. The galaxy is part of the M96 group.
NGC 3842- an elliptical galaxy containing one of the largest black holes, whose mass reaches 9.7 billion solar. The apparent magnitude is 12.8, and the distance is 331 million light years.
NGC 3596 is an intermediate spiral galaxy with a visual magnitude of 12.0. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1784. Look under the bright star Theta Leo.
is a barred spiral galaxy. The visual magnitude is 9.7, and the distance is 30.6 million light years. The galaxy was discovered by William Herschel in 1784.
NGC 3626- a medium-density spiral galaxy with a visual magnitude of 10.6-10.9. Located near Delta Leo (Zosma), 70 million light-years away. It belongs to the NGC 3607 group.
NGC 3357- an elliptical galaxy, found on April 5, 1864 by the German astronomer Albert March.
