Leo, the Lion (Leo)
(LEE-oh)
The 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
Double Stars in Leo
These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Leo.
- 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
The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Leo:
Galaxies in Leo
The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find galaxies in the constellation Leo:
- Galaxy name
- Catalog #
- Galaxy type
- Copeland Septet
- galaxy group
- Leo III
- irregular
- Leo I
- spheroidal dwarf
- Leo II
- spheroidal dwarf
- Leo Triplet
- M65/66
- galaxy group
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.
Exoplanets in Leo
These are the most notable named exoplanet systems known in the constellation Leo. Bear in mind that we will likely discover billions of exoplanets in the years to come.
* For southern latitudes, flip the season listed. For example, if a constellation is listed as best viewed in the summer in the month of July, in the southern hemisphere the constellation would be best viewed in the winter in January and would be upside-down.
** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite).