Leo (constellation)
Zodiac constellation straddling the celestial equator / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Leo (constellation)?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Leo /ˈliːoʊ/ is one of the constellations of the zodiac, between Cancer the crab to the west and Virgo the maiden to the east. It is located in the Northern celestial hemisphere. Its name is Latin for lion, and to the ancient Greeks represented the Nemean Lion killed by the mythical Greek hero Heracles as one of his twelve labors. Its old astronomical symbol is (♌︎). One of the 48 constellations described by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, Leo remains one of the 88 modern constellations today, and one of the most easily recognizable due to its many bright stars and a distinctive shape that is reminiscent of the crouching lion it depicts.
Constellation | |
Abbreviation | Leo |
---|---|
Genitive | Leonis |
Pronunciation | /ˈliːoʊ/, genitive /liːˈoʊnɪs/ |
Symbolism | the Lion |
Right ascension | 11h |
Declination | +15° |
Quadrant | NQ2 |
Area | 947 sq. deg. (12th) |
Main stars | 9, 15 |
Bayer/Flamsteed stars | 92 |
Stars with planets | 13 |
Stars brighter than 3.00m | 5 |
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 5 |
Brightest star | Regulus (α Leo) (1.35m) |
Messier objects | 5 |
Meteor showers | Leonids |
Bordering constellations | Ursa Major Leo Minor Lynx (corner) Cancer Hydra Sextans Crater Virgo Coma Berenices |
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −65°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of April. |