Constellation Finder: Leo, the Lion
Tonight we’re highlighting Leo, The Lion. Now is one of the best times to view this famous zodiac constellation, one of the few constellations that bears a strong resemblance to its namesake. (“The most boring constellation: Triangulum Australis. A profound lack of imagination – any 3 stars in the sky makes a triangle.” - Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson)
Like all zodiac constellations, it lies in the plane of our Solar System, meaning the Moon and planets all appear to move through them over the course of the year. In fact the Moon just passed through Leo, however it’s so bright that it obscures the detail in the constellation. Tonight, with the Moon well outside the boundaries of Leo, the brighter stars should easily be visible.
The head of the lion is also referred to informally as “the sickle” (see accompanying images), and the official name of the star Al Geiba translates as “lion’s mane” (see chart for names). The tail of the lion is Denebola, literally meaning “lion’s tail.” The brightest star in Leo is Regulus, which forms the head of the sickle shape as well.
Leo is visible after dusk, to find it look due south after 8:30 pm and look roughly 60° above the horizon to find Regulus and then search for the outline of the lion’s body, refer to the accompanying chart to help locate it.
Looking South at 8:30 pm, May 5, 2020 in Arvada, CO. Leo is high and well placed now that the Moon has moved through its boundary
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