Leo is one of the largest constellations in the northern hemisphere. The shape represents a lion, with a sickle shape of 6 stars creating the head and shoulders.
Like the other zodiac constellations, Leo lies along the path of the sun and can be seen throughout most of the world.
Leo is an easy constellation to locate. The pointer stars of the Big Dipper extended south approximately locates Regulus, the bright blue-white star in the heart of the lion. There is a meteor shower, Leonids, in mid-November from the gamma star, the lion’s mouth.
The constellations Cancer, Coma Berenices, Crater, Hydra, Leo Minor, Lynx, Sextans, Ursa Major and Virgo share a border with the Leo constellation
Right Ascension: 10:37
Diameter (°): 24
Area (square °): 947
Opposition: Feb 26
Size Rank: 12nd
Brightness Rank: 16th
Major stars in Leo
Regulus – α Leonis (Alpha Leonis)
Denebola – β Leonis (Beta Leonis)
Algieba – γ Leonis (Gamma Leonis)
Zosma – δ Leonis (Delta Leonis)
Chort – θ Leonis (Theta Leonis)
Al Minliar – κ Leonis (Kappa Leonis)
Alterf – λ Leonis (Lambda Leonis)
Subra – ο Leonis (Omicron Leonis)
Al Jabbah – η Leonis (Eta Leonis)
Adhafera – ζ Leonis (Zeta Leonis)
Ras Elased Borealis – μ Leonis (Mu Leonis)
Ras Elased Australis – ε Leonis (Epsilon Leonis)
ρ Leonis (Rho Leonis)
ι Leonis (Iota Leonis)
σ Leonis (Sigma Leonis)
Icarus (MACS J1149 Lensed Star 1)
CW Leonis (IRC + 10216)
Deep Sky Objects in Leo
Messier 65 (M65, NGC 3623)
Messier 66 (M66, NGC 3627)
Messier 95 (M95, NGC 3351)
Messier 96 (M96, NGC 3368)
Messier 105 (M105, NGC 3379)
Mythology of the Constellation Leo
According to Greek fable, this lion represents the formidable animal which roamed the forests of Nemaea near Corinth, Greece. It was slain by Hercules and placed by Zeus among the stars in commemoration of the dreadful conflict.
Some writers have applied the story of the "12 Labors of Hercules" to the movement of the Sun through the 12 zodiac signs. The combat of that celebrated hero with the lion was Hercules’ first labor, so they have placed Leo as the first sign.
The figure of the lion, however, was on Egyptian charts long before the fable of Hercules.
The overflowing of the Nile, which the Egyptians regularly and anxiously expected every year, took place when the sun was in this sign. Accordingly, they paid more attention to this sign than to any other.
In hieroglyphic writing the lion was an emblem of violence and fury. In the zodiac it signified the intense heat the Sun created when it entered that part of the ecliptic. The Egyptians were annoyed by lions that left the desert during the hot summer and hunted the banks of the Nile. It was, therefore, natural for their astronomers to place the lion in the zodiac.
The figure of Leo the lion is also included on all the Hindu, Persian, and Mesopotamian star charts.
In the Hebrew zodiac, Leo is assigned to Judah, upon whose standard a lion traditionally is painted according to several passages of Hebrew writings. On the other hand, Leo is assigned to Simon in the Encyclopedia Judaica.
Christians of the Middle Ages tried to replace the mythological characters of the constellation with biblical connotations. Leo was subsequently and separately notated as one of Daniel’s Lions or as Doubting Thomas.
Sun Enters: July 23
Sun Leaves: August 22
Positives: Creative, broadminded, enthusiastic, powerful, an organizer, generous, dramatic, showy
Negatives: A bully, pompous, indolent, conceited, dogmatic, stubborn, dramatic, liking power, a show-off
As a Child: Too spirited
Plant: Pine Tree