Constellation Leo in astronomy, astrology and legends. The constellation Leo is the main one in the spring sky. The most interesting objects to observe in the constellation Leo
Message quote Constellation Leo in astronomy, astrology and legends
From July 23 to August 22, Leo dominates the zodiac horizon. The lion is truly a royal animal, personifying strength and power, and does not tolerate competition.
Meanwhile, in astronomy there are two Leo Constellations, located nearby. On celestial atlases, astronomers placed them side by side, since it was believed that Leo Minor in its influence should be similar to Big Lion. In the Northern Hemisphere, they can be seen almost always, although they are especially visible in the spring - in February and March.
The close proximity of these constellations in the night sky does not give reason to consider them under common name"Constellation Leo". Most often they are mentioned separately.
The constellation Leo Minor Leo Minor is located between Ursa Major and Leo is a very small constellation that contains 34 stars. This constellation is not as remarkable as its older brother.
Leo Minor was discovered by Jan Hevelius in 1610. He was the first to place the constellation in his atlas “Uranography”.
Drawing of the constellation Leo from the atlas of John Hevelius.
The Big Lion is better known. And for good reason. After all, the Big Lion has much more reasons to boast. Its brightest star, Regulus (translated from Latin as “king”), is 160 times brighter than our Sun and about 3 times its size. Sometimes it is also called “Heart of the Lion” (Cor Leonis).
At the base of the "lion's head" is the brightest star Algieba (γ Leo), which means "lion's mane". In January 2001, a large object eight times the size of Jupiter was discovered in Algieba's orbit.
The arrangement of bright stars really resembles a reclining lion, whose head and chest represent the famous “Sickle” asterism, similar to a mirrored question mark.
The triangle of stars at the back of the Leo figure begins with the star Denebola (β Leo), which means “lion's tail.” There are about 70 stars in total, but most of them are faintly visible.
There are a number of luminous galaxies within Leo, including the Leo Trios M66, M65 and NGC 3628. The Leo ring is a cloud of hydrogen and helium, with two dwarf galaxies orbiting it. In mid-November you can also observe the Leonids meteor shower, which peaks on November 17th.
The constellation Leo is one of the earliest recognized constellations. The Mesopotamians are known to have documented this constellation under the name "Lion". The Persians called it as "Ser" or "Shir"; Turks as "Artan"; Syrians as "Aryo"; Jewish nation as "Arye"; The Indians called this constellation "Simha". All these names translate as "Lion".
Lysippos the Great Greek sculptor of the early Hellenistic era (IV century BC)
The constellation Leo represents the Nemean Leo, who was killed by Hercules in the first of his 12 labors. This murder was in retaliation for the murder of his family. According to Greek mythology, The Lion lived in a mountain valley near the Argolid city of Nemea, rampaging throughout the area and killing the inhabitants. Leo was enormous growth and remarkable strength, and his skin was so hard that neither iron, nor bronze, nor stone could pierce it.
Fresco in Pompeii depicting Hercules fighting the Nemean Lion
On the way to Nemea, Hercules stopped with the farmer Molorch. They agreed that if the hero did not return in 30 days, Molorkh would sacrifice his last ram to the masters of Hades. If Hercules manages to return, the ram will be sacrificed to Zeus. It took the hero just 30 days to find the cave where the Nemean lion lived. He blocked one of the entrances to it with stones, hid near the other and began to wait for the monster to appear. At sunset he saw a lion and shot three arrows at it in a row, but none of them pierced the skin. The lion rushed at Hercules, but he hit him with a club made from an ash tree, cut down in a Nemean grove, and then strangled the beast, stunned by the blow. And then he ascended to Heaven as one of his conquests.
Relief of the front wall of a marble sarcophagus
A very long time ago, about 4.5 thousand years ago, in the constellation Leo there was a point summer solstice, V southern countries At this time, extreme heat reigned, so for many peoples the Lion became a symbol of fire. The Assyrians called it the “Great Fire”.
In Egypt, during this period of the summer solstice, the Nile began to flood. Therefore, the gates of the sluices that directed the waters of this river through canals to the fields were made in the form of a lion’s head. And now in fountains a stream of water pours out of a lion’s mouth, and no one even wonders where this tradition comes from... 
Astrology is not a science, but according to its laws, Leo is the fifth constellation of the Zodiac, corresponding to the ecliptic sector from 120° to 150°, counting from the point of the vernal equinox.
IN western astrology It is believed that the Sun is in the sign of Leo from approximately July 23 to August 21. The sign of Leo should not be confused with the constellation Leo, in which the Sun is located from August 10 to September 15.
Leo symbol:
Sign Type: Fire
Planet of Leo: Sun
Lucky Color: Gold, Orange, White, Red
Leo Flowers: Sunflower
Leo Stone: Peridot
Leo is considered male sign, extrovert. Every Leo is born with luck in his hands, just as love conquers all adversity.
Lions are divided into two groups. The first is those who like more status than money, and vice versa for the second. But if Leo is ruled by the heart, then he is able to overcome any difficulties in life.
Leos, like all born leaders, never rest. Both in the spiritual realm and in the material realm, those born under the zodiac sign Leo constantly strive to create something new. In order to achieve their goals, Leo will spend large quantities of money, time and knowledge, practically not caring about himself.
Lviv is very drawn to opposite sex, but they are ruined by excessive gullibility. Leo can often become a victim of deception, because he trusts other people as much as himself.
Leos don't cheat. If they find out that their significant other is guilty of this, then a disappointed Leo may forget about love. Leos hate it when they are outright lied to. If a person born under this Sign finds out that you lied to him, you can say goodbye to him forever. Leo's respect will never be returned to you in this case.
Leos will stand up for their friends or loved ones. They will not be afraid of anyone or anything, fearlessly rushing at the offender, tearing him into small pieces. In part, this happens because Leos think that you are possessive, but the root cause is not known even to them. It’s just that something happens inside them at such moments, through which they become stronger and braver.
Leos are very daring and very dynamic, but despite this, they suffer less from injuries and are injured less than others. This also applies to driving a car - according to statistics, Lions are the least likely to get into accidents. Experts say that the confidence and composure of their character is to blame for everything.
Leos remain calm even in the most unusual situations. When everyone is running and yelling with their hands up, these people calmly solve the problem. Well... or they try, at least. Only human stupidity... or a long wait can throw them off balance.
Leos hate waiting. This Zodiac Sign is less likely than others to sit in line. If Leo is sitting in line with you, he can be simply unbearable. This is perhaps the only situation that should be avoided when being around Leo.
Leos adore luxury, which emphasizes their status, but this does not necessarily manifest itself in everything. There is something so important to them that they will never give up. Some people like to eat in a restaurant, some like to drive an expensive car, some love chic clothes. For this they are able to sacrifice anything.
Leos always have a fairly high opinion of themselves. Their weakness is their pride, such people melt from flattery and this is probably the most easy way to their hearts, but the slightest criticism will close the possibility of peaceful coexistence.
That's how Leos are.
There are three levels of soul development for people born under the sign of Leo. The highest is represented by the Sphinx - it is wise beyond the weather, a mythical creature, a great teacher and mentor. The second is Leo, the king of the jungle, who rules the Leo ego, but always stands up for and supports those he loves. And the last level is the Lion cub, an immature, unformed baby, scared of everything new.
But as it is not difficult to guess, if there is a Small one, then there must also be a Big one, or simply Lion. It is precisely about the constellation Leo that the further story will go. It is located just south of Leo Minor, and by the contours of the bright stars you can easily recognize the constellation in the night starry sky.
Legend and history
Lion- one of the 13 zodiac constellations. The name was given in honor of the lion that Hercules had to kill in one of the 12 labors. Many historians admit that the constellation received its name much earlier than from Greek myth. For example, in Ancient Mesopotamia the constellation was called " Large dog" Included in the catalog starry sky Claudius Ptolemy's Almagest. For a long time Russian sources were “silent” about this constellation. Only in the 11th century in the manuscript “13 Words of Gregory the Theologian in the Old Slavic Translation” the constellation was mentioned.
Characteristics
| Latin name | Leo |
| Reduction | Leo |
| Square | 947 sq. degrees (12th place) |
| Right ascension | From 9 h 15 m to 11 h 52 m |
| Declension | From −6° to +33° 30′ |
| Brightest stars (< 3 m) | |
| Number of stars brighter than 6 m | 70 |
| Meteor showers | Leonids |
| Neighboring constellations | |
| Constellation visibility | From +84° to −56° |
| Hemisphere | Northern |
| Time to observe the area Belarus, Russia and Ukraine | March |
The most interesting objects to observe in the constellation Leo
1. Spiral Galaxy M 65 (NGC 3623)
Spiral galaxy M 65- one of Leo triplet(Also M 66 And NGC 3628). As a rule, this trio of galaxies cannot be separated even when observed through a telescope. Often in astronomical sources you will come across exactly the name “Leo Triplet”. The entire system of galaxies is 35 million light years away from us.
M 65 has a magnitude of 9.3 m, a surface brightness of 12.7 m and angular apparent dimensions of 9.8′ × 2.9′. A very oblate and elongated galaxy. With a telescope with an aperture of up to 200 millimeters, you will be able to notice the concentrated bright core and the shape of the galaxy as a whole. In order to distinguish the spirals of the galaxy, you will need a telescope with a primary mirror diameter of 300+ millimeters.
In the telescope finder we find the bright (3.3 m) star Sheratan ( ΘLeo) and move a little lower:
Leo triplet: NGC 3628 (top), M 66 (left) and M 65 (right)
2. Spiral Galaxy M 66 (NGC 3627)
Large galaxy M 66, belonging to the spiral type, is distant from us at a distance of 35 million light years. Its diameter is 100 thousand light years. The apparent dimensions are 9.1′ × 4.1′, with a magnitude of 8.9 m and a surface brightness of 12.7 m. Despite the spirality of the galaxy, M 66 included in the atlas of peculiar galaxies. The galaxy has such an elongated and slightly flattened shape due to gravitational interaction with close neighbors in the cluster. In this cluster it is geographically located to the south of other galaxies.
IN M 66 were observed in 1973, 1989 and 1997.
3. Spiral Galaxy NGC 3628
The faintest, but at the same time the most beautiful galaxy NGC 3628 in the Leo Triplet cluster, it measures 13.1′ × 3.1′, has an apparent magnitude of 9.6 m and a surface brightness of 13.5 m. To discern the dark streak of dust “passing” through the galaxy, you will need a telescope with an aperture of 200 millimeters or more. The galaxy is visible edge-on, and upon careful detailed study, it will be possible to discern the deformation of the arms. This occurs due to the mutual gravitation of the three galaxies.
4. Spiral Galaxy M 95 (NGC 3351)
In 1781 the galaxy M 95 was discovered by the French astronomer Pierre Mechain, and four days later included in his catalog by Charles Messier. Despite the convenient rotation of the deep sky relative to the observer from Earth, angular dimensions The galaxy is only 7.4′ × 5.0′, the apparent magnitude is just below 10 (9.8 m to be precise) and is located at a distance of about 40 million light years from us. Along with at least three other deep-sky objects, M 95 is part of the local group of galaxies.
In 2012 in M 95 discovered a supernova SN 2012aw.
Below is a star map. The search should start with the brightest star in the constellation Regulus ( α Leo) and move towards an also bright star (3.8 m) ρ Leo, and then straight to the galaxies M 95, M 96 and others.
Search for galaxies M 95, M 96 and others, starting from the star Regulus
5. Spiral Galaxy M 96 (NGC 3368)
Like the previous galaxy ( M 95) M 96 was discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1781. It is noteworthy that it is one of the first discovered spiral galaxies, and also the brightest in the local Leo I group. It has a brightness of 9.2 m and angular dimensions of 7.8′ × 5.2′. The distance to the galaxy ranges from 30 to 40 million light years. It was determined using variable stars.
A supernova was discovered in 1998 SN1998bu.
6. Elliptical galaxy M 105 (NGC 3379)
M 105 (left), NGC 3384 (bottom) and NGC 3389 (right)
M 105- elliptical galaxy type E1. The Hubble Orbital Telescope discovered a giant object with a mass of about 50 million solar masses in the center of the galaxy. Supposedly it's huge black hole. The brightness of the galaxy is 9.3 m, visible dimensions are 5.3′ × 4.8′.
On a clear night, a 10-inch telescope can see all three galaxies in the same field of view of the eyepiece.
By the way, this galaxy was also not discovered by Messier and it was not even included in the second edition of his catalog. Only in 1947, the American astronomer Helen Hogg, after studying letters and notes, included the galaxy in the Messier catalog.
7. Elliptical Galaxy NGC 3384 (NGC 3371)
In the previous image, the bottom of the three galaxies is an elliptical galaxy NGC 3384. In the New General Catalog (NGC) it is recorded under two serial numbers: the second - 3371 . The visible angular dimensions are 5.4′ × 2.7′ and the brightness is 9.9 m. More flattened and turned in spirals towards the observer.
Third galaxy ( NGC 3389) in the catalog is located under two numbers: the second - 3373 . Has an apparent magnitude close to 12 and within this review is not considered in detail. Visible as a cloudy small oval speck in telescopes with an aperture of 250 millimeters or more.
8. Elliptical Galaxy NGC 3377
Another small, but with a rich core elliptical galaxy in the constellation Leo - NGC 3377. In the Hubble sequence it is of type E5, that is, it has a highly flattened shape at the poles. The visible angular dimensions are 5.0′ × 3.0′ and the brightness is 10.2 m.
In the photo on background Several more galaxies are noticeable, but their brightness decreases to 15 - 16 magnitude and is completely invisible even in powerful professional telescopes.
Galaxies NGC 3377, 3412 and NGC 3489
As you can see, three more elliptical galaxies are located above the previous group and, if the sky is clear, it is recommended to start the search from the star κLeo, which has a brightness of 5.45 m.
9. Lenticular Galaxy NGC 3412
If you remember, (SB0) is a type of spiral galaxy in which the branches are very poorly defined and have a bright, saturated core. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a normal photo on the Internet. Visible angular dimensions NGC 3412- 3.7′ × 2.2′, and brightness - 10.4 m (in some places reduced to 10.9 m).
10. Lenticular galaxy NGC 3489
And another spiral galaxy of type SB0 NGC 3489 deviated slightly from the group of previous galaxies and is not connected with them by any gravitational forces. This is a single deep-sky object, the search for which can be started from different reference stars. Or from a star κLeo, which I wrote about earlier, or start on the other side of the brighter star Sheratan ( ΘLeo), whose magnitude is 3.5 m.
The galaxy has small apparent dimensions (3.6′ × 2.2′), is flattened towards the equator and has a brightness of 10.2 m. It becomes accessible for observation in 8 - 10 inch telescopes.
11. Spiral Galaxy NGC 2903
In the head of Leo, not far from the star Alterf ( λLeo) hidden amazing spiral galaxy NGC 2903. The galaxy is notable for the fact that at the edges of the “arms” active star formation is in full swing. One of the star formation regions, which is located near north end jumpers, scientists managed to isolate and add to the catalog under the serial number NGC 2305. The apparent magnitude (8.8 m) allows you to notice the deep sky object even in an amateur semi-professional 150 mm telescope. By the way, some details of the branches and the heterogeneity of the galactic core can be discerned already in a telescope with a main mirror diameter of 250 millimeters. The apparent dimensions of the galaxy are 12.6′ × 6.0′ - so it seems to “stand on its feet,” that is, it is elongated vertically relative to the observer.
It is located at a distance of just over 30 million light years from us and has been studied quite well by astronomers using the Hubble telescope. But we can find it by plotting a route from the star Algenubi ( εLeo) and turning the telescope tube towards the star Alterf, and then a little lower.
12. Pair of galaxies NGC 3226 and NGC 3227
The Hubble telescope captured a fantastic image of a pair of interacting galaxies. Interestingly, NGC 3226 is an elliptical galaxy (E2), while NGC 3227 is a barred spiral galaxy. The latter is more massive and, with time, will completely absorb its neighbor and form a new large galaxy. Only this will happen in hundreds of millions of years. The total brightness of the galaxies is close to magnitude 11, and in addition to a powerful telescope, you will need a clear moonless night and the ability to distinguish barely noticeable dark-light irregularities against the background of space.
On one of the Canadian astronomical forums I found a real photograph of galaxies using a 400 mm telescope. I present to your attention:
The program, for a reason unknown to me, does not indicate a pair of galaxies at all, although the route for searching for them is trivial: from Algieba (γ Leo) and counterclockwise.
13. Elliptical galaxy NGC 3640
A very small (4.0′ × 3.2′) and dim (apparent magnitude 10.3 m) elliptical galaxy NGC 3640 hid in the southern part of the constellation among several stars of 6-8 magnitude. Nearest bright star τLeo(4.95 m). If you can spot it in the finder, it will be an excellent start on the path to the desired galaxy. The location is marked with red arrows below:
Fantastically attractive barred spiral galaxy NGC 3521, same as the previous one NGC 3640 located in the south of the constellation Leo. On the star map, I marked a short route from the star with green landmarks. ρ 2 Leo.
The apparent magnitude is 9.2m, and the angular dimensions are 11.2′ × 5.4′. Due to large sizes has a low surface brightness (13.5 m). However, you can find the galaxy and even notice some dark-light irregularities with a 150-mm telescope.
Compared to other images of galaxies, the image NGC 3521 Many times superior in detail and quality. In 2015, the Hubble Space Telescope updated the previous image, dated 2011, and the following image can now be found in astronomical sources:
Spiral galaxy NGC 3521 (Hubble telescope, 2015)
NGC 3607 (center), to the right is NGC 3605, and to the left is NGC 3608
Triplet of elliptical galaxies NGC 3605, 3607 , 3608 is not gravitationally bound in any way. Only optically it seems that they are nearby and experience mutual attraction. In fact, only one of the three has a brightness below magnitude 11 (10.0 m), the rest, even “at the glitch level,” will be extremely difficult to notice. By the way, there is another galaxy nearby - a spiral galaxy NGC 3626 or in C 40, but its brightness also exceeds 11 m.
Below on the map, I marked with colored arrows both the location of the galaxy and possible routes for searching for it.
16. Spiral Galaxy NGC 3810
The spiral galaxy (Sc) closes the list of bright deep-sky objects in the constellation Leo. Despite good quality image taken by the Hubble telescope, the galaxy has a small size (4.3′ × 3.0′) and a brightness just below magnitude 11 (10.8 m, and now reduced to 11.98 m). In a 250mm telescope it looks like a faint hazy speck without any distinctive features or details. To distinguish among dim stars, you have to rotate the sharpness knob and by “smearing” the image, the galaxy somehow reveals its appearance.
Geographically located near the constellation Virgo, I recommend starting your search with a bright star Denebola (β Leo). By the way, if you continue to follow the route and move a little clockwise, then 3 stars of the sixth magnitude will appear in the field of view of the eyepiece, shaped like an equilateral triangle.
17. Double star Algieb (γ Leo)
γLeo- a double star with a total brightness of 2.01 m consists of a red and yellow giant. The angular distance between the components is 4.4″. To separate a star into its components, you will need a telescope with an aperture of 150 mm or more and maximum magnification.
.Leo is a very important constellation, which is the main figure of the night spring sky. Serves as a basis for amateur astronomers to search for other constellations. The constellation Leo is very rich in various interesting objects that are very easy to see with a small telescope and even with the naked eye. It can be observed from February to March in the southern part of the night sky.
- is the most important object of the constellation Leo. It is located almost in the center of the constellation and is often associated with the heart. This is the brightest luminary, the brightness of which is 160 times higher than that of our Sun. This star is located 85 light years away, which explains its high apparent brightness.
Simulation of Regulus rotation
Denebola- the second brightest object that belongs to Leo. This is the outermost star, often called the tail.
Algeiba- a double star, one of the most beautiful in the sky. Denotes a majestic mane. If you look closely, the slightly orange star has a noticeable golden companion. The orbital period of this binary system is approximately 510 years.
There are several more and even triple stars in the constellation that are worth paying attention to. These are stars called 54 and 88 Leo (double), and 90 Leo (triple). If you look closely at the star 90 Leo, you can see two bright blue dots with a distinct companion at a short distance from them.
Variable stars
Also present in Leo. It is worth paying attention to the Lev variable R - one of the long-known variables. Its brightness varies from 10 to 5 magnitudes. It is very interesting to find this star during the period of minimum luminosity and watch its “burning up”, which lasts 312.5 days.
A very interesting object is located in the very depths of the constellation. This is Wolf 359 - a red dwarf, which is located only 7 from us. Due to its low brightness, this star is visible only through telescopes.
Orange Wolf 359 in the center of the photo
Galaxies
With a 7-8 centimeter telescope you can see not only stars, but also entire galaxies. So, if you look closely at the constellation Leo, you can easily find the “Leo Trio”, namely the galaxies NGC 3628, M 65 and M 66. M 66 is the largest galaxy of this trio. It is located 35 million light years away. It has a clearly defined core and arms, which are shifted upward relative to the plane of the galaxy. It is assumed that this effect was formed due to the gravitational influence of two neighboring galaxies lying nearby. If you take a more powerful telescope, you can see and examine the structure of M95, M96, M105, NGC 2903.
Asterisms
In the constellation Leo there is an asterism called “Sickle”. It consists of six stars. Namely - α, η, γ, ζ, μ and ε. The shape of this asterism resembles a sickle, or a question mark. The point of this question mark is the brightest star of this constellation - Regulus.
Story
The constellation Leo has been known for several thousand years. Oddly enough, it also acquired a name immediately, which is still in use today. The Assyrians, Babylonians, Hindus, Persians and Jews all saw this constellation and named it in honor of the king of beasts.
| List of constellations in the spring sky | |
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In the night sky, even with the naked eye you can see the constellation Leo. Leo Major and Leo Minor, located nearby, have long been the subject of study by astronomers, in no way inferior to other constellations in this sense. Where and when can they be seen in the sky? What luminaries are included in these constellations? This is what we will try to find out further.
Both constellations are in the Northern Hemisphere. Of these, the Big Lion is, of course, the most famous. Its prototype was the same one that the hero of Greek mythology, Hercules, desperately fought against. Leo Minor is located between Ursa Major and Leo. The close proximity of these constellations in the night sky does not give reason to consider them under the general name “Constellation Leo”. Most often they are mentioned separately.
And for good reason. After all, the Big Lion has much more reasons to boast. Its Regulus (translated from Latin as “king”) is 160 times brighter than our Sun and about 3 times larger than it. Other brightest stars in the constellation Leo: Denebola, Algieba, Zosma and Algenubi.
It is located next to such constellations as Virgo, Cancer, Sextant, Chalice. In total, it contains about 70 stars, but most of them are faintly visible.
The shape of the constellation is similar to an irregular hexagon, on one side of which there is a curl in the shape of an inverted question mark. This curl is the supposed mane of the lion, and its six stars form the famous Sickle asterism.
There are quite a lot of interesting objects in the constellation Leo: galaxies, double and variable stars, which can only be seen through a powerful telescope.
The constellation is best visible in February and March, and in mid-November you can also observe the Leonids meteor shower, which peaks on November 17.
Constellation Leo Minor
Leo Minor is a very small constellation that contains 34 stars. It is best viewed in spring and summer periods. not as remarkable as its older brother. No interesting objects are observed in it, and its brightest stars do not form a clear geometric figure.
Leo Minor was discovered by Jan Hevelius in 1610. He was the first to place the constellation in his atlas “Uranography”. Later, astronomer Francis Bailey, pointing out bright stars Small Leo, noted only the second brightest, completely forgetting about the first.
Conclusion
The constellation Leo is two constellations located next to each other. In the Northern Hemisphere, they can be seen almost always, although they are especially visible in the spring. On celestial atlases, astronomers placed them side by side, since it was believed that Leo Minor should be similar in its influence to Leo Major.