Leo

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Note: This article is about the constellation Leo. For other meanings, see leo (disambiguation).

Leo
Leo constellation.
Abbreviation	Leo
Genitive	Leonis
Meaning in English	the Lion
Right ascension	11 h
Declination	15°
Visible to latitude	Between 90° and −65°
Best visible	April
Area  - Total	Ranked 12th 947 sq. deg.
Number of stars with apparent magnitude < 3	3
Brightest star  - Apparent magnitude	Regulus (α Leo) 1.4
Meteor showers	Leonids
Bordering constellations	Ursa Major Leo Minor Cancer Hydra Sextans Crater Virgo Coma Berenices

Leo (the lion) is a constellation of the zodiac. Leo lies between dim Cancer to the west and Virgo to the east.

Notable features

This constellation contains many bright stars, such as Regulus (α Leonis), the lion's heart; Denebola (β Leonis); and Algieba (γ¹ Leonis). Many other fainter stars have been named has well, such as Zosma (δ Leonis), Chort (θ Leonis), Al Minliar al Asad (κ Leonis), Alterf (λ Leonis), and Subra (ο Leonis).

Regulus, η Leonis, and Algieba, together with the fainter stars Adhafera (ζ Leonis), Ras Elased Borealis (μ Leonis), and Ras Elased Australis (ε Leonis), make up the asterism known as the Sickle. These stars represent the head and the mane of the lion.

A former asterism representing the tuft of the lion's tail has since become its own constellation, Coma Berenices.

The star Wolf 359, one of the nearest stars to Earth's solar system (7.7 light-years), is in Leo. Gliese 436, a faint star in Leo about 33 light years away from the Sun, is orbited by one of the smallest extrasolar planets ever found. [1]

Notable deep sky objects

Leo contains many bright galaxies of which the twins M65, M66 and M95, M96 are the most famous.

Mythology

In Greek mythology, it corresponds to the Nemean Lion which was killed by Hercules during one of his quests. The Egyptians worshipped the lion because the sun was in this constellation at the time of the life-giving floods of the Nile.

Astrology

The astrological sign Leo (July 23 - August 22) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Leo is associated with the classical element Fire, and thus called a Fire Sign (with Aries and Sagittarius). Leo is also one of the Fixed signs (along with Taurus, Scorpio, and Aquarius).Leos are agressive by nature.They are also highly Energetic. Each astrological sign is assigned a part of the body, viewed as the seat of its power. Leo rules the heart and spine. The symbol for Leo is the lion. Leonine qualities include affectionate warmth, an outgoing nature, an imperial bearing, aggressive self-expression, and generosity of spirit. Madonna (singer) is one of the world's most famous Leos; as are Jennifer Lopez, Whitney Houston, Ben Affleck, Debra Messing, Mae West, Steve Martin, Halle Berry, Sean Penn, Gurpreet Joshi, Robert DeNiro and Bill Clinton.

da:Løve (stjernetegn) de:Löwe (Sternbild) es:Leo eo:Leono (Zodiako) fr:Lion (constellation) it:Leone (astronomia) la:Leo nl:Leo (sterrenbeeld) ja:しし座 pl:Lew (gwiazdozbiór) pt:Leo fi:Leijona (tähdistö) sv:Lejonet zh:狮子座