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Leo constellation

Leo is a zodiac constellation near the celestial equator. Its brightest star is Regulus. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Springbest seen
  • Regulusbrightest star, magnitude 1.4
  • LeoLeo
Show on the sky map
The constellation Leo in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Regulus, Leo — magnitude 1.4. Open on the sky mapRegulusAlgieba, Leo — magnitude 2.0. Open on the sky mapAlgiebaDenebola, Leo — magnitude 2.1. Open on the sky mapDenebolaZosma, Leo — magnitude 2.6. Open on the sky mapZosmaAlgenubi, Leo — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapAlgenubiChertan, Leo — magnitude 3.3. Open on the sky mapAdhafera, Leo — magnitude 3.4. Open on the sky mapAl Jabhah, Leo — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapSubra, Leo — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapρ Leonis — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapRasalas, Leo — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapι Leonis — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky map54 Leonis — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapA Leonis — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapb Leonis — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky map93 Leonis — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapZubrah, Leo — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Leo

Look for the Sickle — a backwards question mark — with bright Regulus at the bottom, and a triangle with Denebola at the “tail”. A line through the two stars of the Big Dipper’s bowl nearest the handle, extended away from Polaris, leads to Leo.

Best seen in spring: in March around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 57°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawrises and sets, fully visible
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgrises and sets, fully visible

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Regulusα Leonis 1.4bluish whiteabout 79 light years
Algiebaγ¹ Leonis 2.0orange—
Denebolaβ Leonis 2.1bluish whiteabout 36 light years
Zosmaδ Leonis 2.6bluish white—
Algenubiε Leonis 3.0yellow—
Chertanθ Leonis 3.3bluish white—
Adhaferaζ Leonis 3.4white—
Al Jabhahη Leonis 3.5bluish white—
Subraο Leonis 3.5yellow—
ρ Leonis 3.8blue—
Rasalasμ Leonis 3.9orange—
ι Leonis 4.0white—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Leo in the sky?

Look for the Sickle — a backwards question mark — with bright Regulus at the bottom, and a triangle with Denebola at the “tail”. A line through the two stars of the Big Dipper’s bowl nearest the handle, extended away from Polaris, leads to Leo.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Leo?

In spring: in March around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Leo?

Regulus: magnitude 1.4, bluish white. Distance: about 79 light years.

How many stars are there in the constellation Leo?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 80 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Spring constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Leo is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map