Leo: The Lion

Pronunciation: LEE-oh

Leo Constellation Profile
Abbreviation: Leo	Genitive: Leonis
Origin: Ancient	Location: Celestial Equator
Best View (North): Spring	Best View (South):
Bordering Constellations: Leo Minor, Lynx, Cancer, Hydra, Sextans, Crater, Virgo, Coma Berenices, Ursa Major

Leo, the Lion, is one of the 12 members of the zodiac. It is one of the earliest recognized constellations, as it was known as the “lion” constellation to the Mesopotamians. It is located in between Cancer and Virgo on the ecliptic.

The Myth Behind the Constellation Leo

Leo represents the Nemean Lion, a beast with an impenetrable hide and razor sharp claws. Some say It lived in the hills of Nemea in Greece. It originally lived on the Moon and it descended to Earth as a shooting star. Killing this creature was the first of the 12 Labors of Hercules. The hero defeated the lion by wrestling it until he could lock his arms around it and then strangled it to death. He used the lion’s own claws, the only things sharp enough, to skin the beast. From that day forward Hercules wore the pelt as his armor. The king of gods placed this king of the beasts back into the sky from where it had originally come.

Leo Constellation Points of Interest

Interesting Objects in the Constellation Leo
Name	Messier	NGC	Type	Visibility
	M65	NGC 3623	Barred Spiral Galaxy	Small Scope
	M66	NGC 3627	Spiral Galaxy	Small Scope
	M85	NGC 4382	Barred Spiral Galaxy	Small Scope
	M95	NGC 3351	Barred Spiral Galaxy	Small Scope
	M96	NGC 3368	Spiral Galaxy	Small Scope
	M105	NGC 3379	Elliptical Galaxy	Small Scope

Bright Stars in Leo

These are the stars in Leo with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.

Name	Bayer Name	Magnitude	Color	Luminosity	Distance
Regulus	Alpha Leonis	1.36	Blue-White	221 suns	77 ly
Algieba	Gamma Leonis	2.01	Orange	400 suns	126 ly
Denebola	Beta Leonis	2.11	White	12 suns	36 ly
Zosma	Delta Leonis	2.56	White	23 suns	58 ly
Ras Elased	Epsilon Leonis	2.97	Yellow	288 suns	251 ly