ZODIAC CONSTELLATIONS Zodiac Constellations Zodiacal Motion of the Outer Planets Each year the Sun moves eastward in a complete circle around the sky. The path followed by the Sun is called the ecliptic , and any constellation containing the ecliptic is called a zodiac constellation. The constellations of the zodiac are listed below, in order as the Sun moves eastwardly through them, starting from the constellation containing the Sun at the vernal equinox (thus it is visible overhead at night in the fall, six months later). Zodiac Constellation Pisces (Pie-seez) Two fish. Venus and her son Cupid escaped from Typhon by swimming through the sea as two fish. Red star TX Piscium varies in brightness. Fall Ram with Golden Fleece, could fly through the air. A small constellation, with only two easily-visible stars. Winter Taurus (Tore-us) Bull. Babylonian constellation. Jupiter turned himself into a bull to carry off Europa, daughter of the King of Crete. Reddish eye the star Aldebaran, one vertex of the Winter Hexagon , in a V-shaped grouping called the Hyades.

Look at Pleiades, a jewel-box of stars, with binoculars. Winter (Jem-eh-ni) Twin brothers. Protectors of ships and sailors, who swore oaths by them: "By Jiminy!" Look for the two bright stars, Castor and Pollux, which together form one vertex of the Winter Hexagon . Winter (Kan-ser) Crab, sent by Juno to kill Hercules, who squashed it with his foot. Faint stars. Look with binoculars for the Beehive star cluster, faintly visible to the naked eye. Spring Lion. Prehistoric constellation, often associated with royalty. Look for sickle-shaped or backward-question-mark asterism. Bright star Regulus. Spring Maiden, goddess of farms and harvest, holding a shock of wheat. Second-largest constellation in sky. Bright star Spica. Cluster of galaxies. Bright quasar. Spring Libra (Lee-brah) Scales (balance), because the Sun was in Libra during the autumn equinox when the Romans chopped off the claws of Scorpius to create this constellation. Two faint stars. Includes the traditional claws of Scorpius. Alpha-Librae is a double-star resolvable by binoculars.

Spring Scorpius (Scor-pee-us) Scorpion sent by Gaia to kill Orion when Orion boasted he would slay all the animals of the Earth; now Orion and Scorpius circle each other on opposite sides of the sky. Fish-hook to Polynesians; rises right out of water in the SE in the summer. Bright star Antares, the heart of the Scorpion, rivals Mars in its reddish tint. Summer Ophiuchus (Oh-fee-uke-us) The serpent holder, Oph. ("Gus" for short) represents Aesclepius the healer. Although not traditionally considered part of the zodiac, the sun now is actually within Oph. longer than it is in Scorpius. Faint stars. Look for Ophiuchus holding the Serpent (Serpens) between Arcturus ( Bootes ; locate with Big Dipper ) and Altair ( Aquila ; cf. Summer Triangle ). Summer (Saj-eh-tair-ee-us) The Archer, a centaur (half man and half horse) archer named Chiron, shooting an arrow. Look for teapot asterism.

In direction of the center of the Milky Way galaxy, rich with many stars. Try binoculars. Summer Regulus The history of the star: Regulus from p.255 of Star Names , Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889. [A scanned copy can be viewed on this webpage ] Alpha (α) Leo , Regulus, is a triple star, 1.7, 8.5, and 13, flushed white and ultramarine in the Lion. Regulus was so called by Polish astronomer Copernicus (1473-1543), as a diminutive of the earlier Rex, equivalent to the (Greek) Basiliskos (translated "Little King") of the second-century Greek astronomer Ptolemy. This was from the belief that it ruled the affairs of the heavens,— a belief current, till three centuries ago, from at least 3000 years before our era.

Thus, as Sharru, the King, it marked the 15th ecliptic constellation of Babylonia; in India it was Magha, the Mighty; in Sogdiana (a Persian people), Magh, the Great, {p.256} Miyan, the Centre; among the Turanian races, Masu, the Hero; and in Akkadia it was associated with the 5th antediluvian King-of-the-celestial-sphere, Amil-gal-ur, (Greek) Amegalaros. A Ninevite tablet has: "If the star of the great lion is gloomy the heart of the people will not rejoice." In Arabia it was Malikiyy, Kingly; in Greece, basiliskos aster (Little King star); in Rome, Basilica Stella; with Pliny (23-79 A.D.), Regia; in the revival of European astronomy, Rex; and with the 16th century Danish astronomer Tycho, Basiliscus. So, too, it was the leader of the Four Royal Stars of the ancient Persian monarchy, the Four Guardians of Heaven.

Dupuis, referring to this Persian character, said that the four stars marked the cardinal points, assigning Hastorang, as he termed it, to the North; Venant to the South; Tascheter to the East; and Satevis to the West: but did not identify these titles with the individual stars. Flammarion does so, however, with Fomalhaut , Regulus, and Aldebaran for the first three respectively, so that we may consider Satevis as Antares . This same scheme appeared in India, although the authorities are not agreed as to these assignments and identifications; but, as the right ascensions are about six hours apart, they everywhere probably were used to mark the early equinoctial and solstitial colures, four great circles in the sky, or generally the four quarters of the heavens. At the time that these probably were first thought of, Regulus lay very near to the summer solstice, and so indicated the solstitial colure.

Early English astrologers made it a portent of glory, riches, and power to all born under its influence; Wyllyam Salysbury, of 1552, writing, but perhaps from Proclus: "The Lyon's herte is called of some men, the Royall Starre, for they that are borne under it, are thought to have a royall nativitie." And this title, the Lion's Heart, has been a popular one from early classical times, seen in the Kardia Leontos of Greece and the Cor Leonis of Rome, and adopted by the Arabians as Al Kalb al Asad, this degenerating into Kalbelasit, Kalbeleced, Kalbeleceid, Kalbol asadi, Calb-elez-id, Calb-elesit, Calb-alezet, and Kale Alased of various bygone lists. The Persian astronomer Al Biruni (973-1048 A.D.) called it the Heart of the Royal Lion, which "rises when Suhail rises in Al Hijaz (in Saudi Arabia).

The 17th century German astronomer Bayer and others have quoted, as titles for Regulus, the strange Tyberone and Tuberoni Regia; but these are entirely wrong, and arose from a misconception of Pliny's (23-79 A.D.) Stella Regia appellata Tuberoni in pectore Leonis, {p.257} rendered "the star called by Tubero (Lucius Tubero, friend of Cicero.) the Royal One in the Lion's breast"; Holland's translation reading: "The cleare and bright star, called the Star Royal, appearing in the breast of the signe Leo, Tubero mine author saith." Naturally sharing the character of its constellation as the Domicilium Solis, in Euphratean astronomy it was Gus-ba-ra, the Flame, or the Red Fire, of the House of the East; in Khorasmia, Achir, Possessing Luminous Rays; and throughout classical days the supposed cause of the summer's heat, a reputation that it shared with the Dog-star. Horace (65-8 B.C.) expressed this in his Stella vesani Leonis.

It was of course prominent among the lunar-mansion stars, and chief in the 8th nakshatra ( Hindu Moon Mansion ) that bore its name, Magha, made up by all the components of the Sickle; and it marked the junction with the adjoining station Purva Phalguni; the Pitares, Fathers, being the regents of the asterism, which was figured as a House. In Arabia, with gamma (γ Algieba ), zeta (ζ Adhafera ), and eta (η Al Jabhah ) of the Sickle, it was the 8th manzil (Arabic Moon Mansion), Al Jabhah, the Forehead.

In China, however, the 8th sieu ( Chinese Moon Mansion ) lay in Hydra ; but the astronomers of that country referred to Regulus as the Great Star in Heen Yuen, a constellation called after the imperial family, comprising alpha (α Regulus), gamma (γ Algieba ), epsilon (ε Ras Elased Australis ), eta (η Al Jabhah ), lambda (λ Alterf ), zeta (ζ Adhafera ), chi (χ), nu (ν), omicron (ο Subra ), rho (ρ), and others adjacent and smaller reaching into the constellation Leo Minor . Individually it was Niau, the Bird, and so representative of the whole quadripartite zodiacal group. [ Star Names , Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889]. Regulus enters the sign Virgo in 2012 AD. It entered the sign Leo in 156 BC.

Regulus is one of the four key stars in the heavens, also called archangel stars, assigning: Tasoheter - Michael ( Aldebaran ) watcher of the East; Satevis - Oriel ( Antares ) Watcher of the West; Hastorang - Gabriel ( Fomalhaut ) watcher of the South; Venant - Raphael The Healing Archangel (Regulus) Watcher of the North. [The angel associations come from Eric Morse, The Living Stars , p.35. Allen's explanation of these four stars on p.256 of Star Names] They have been characterized as Horses, reflected both in the famed Four Horsemen of Apocalypse (Revelations 6) and Chariot Horses in the Book of Zechariah. [Dr Eric Morse, The Living Stars ] At one time these four stars marked the two Equinoxes and two Solstices. Aldebaran marked the zero Aries point in 3044 BC, Antares marked zero Libra 3052 BC, Fomalhaut marked zero Capricorn, 2582 BC, Regulus marked zero Cancer 2345 BC.

The Lunar Mansions In Arabia, Alpha (α Regulus) Leo with gamma (γ Algieba ), zeta (ζ Adhafera ), and eta (η Al Jabhah ) of the Sickle (a star pattern resembling a reversed question mark representing Leo's mane), was the 8th manzil ( Arabic Moon Mansion ), Al Jabhah, the Forehead. Influences of the 8th Arabic Moon Mansion Al Jabhah: Strengthens buildings, promotes love, benevolence, and help against enemies.

[Robson * , p.71.] With Moon transiting here: sow, plant, release prisoners but take no purgatives.[Robson * , p.71.] Alpha (α Regulus) Leo was chief star in the 8th nakshatra ( Hindu Moon Mansion ) that bore its name, Magha, made up by all the components of the Sickle (Leo's mane and head); alpha (α Regulus described as on the base of the sickle), Gamma (γ Algieba ), eta (η Al Jabhah ), zeta (ζ Adhafera ), mu (μ Ras Elased Borealis ), epsilon (ε Ras Elased Australis ), lambda (λ Alterf ), and kappa (κ). The symbol of Magha "The Mighty" was a House. The regents were the Pitris (the spirits of the dead ancestors), or Fathers. Ruled by the Dragon's Tail. Influences of the 8th Hindu Moon Mansion Magha: A severe asterism belonging to the Shudra caste (low caste Hindu) and favorable for acts of disgrace, destruction, deceit, imprisonment, beating, burning and poison when containing the Moon.

Those born on the lunar day will be wealthy, fond of hills, merchants, valiant, and women haters. With Moon here at birth native will be wealthy, religious, contented, well served, and fond of life. Rules grain boxes and the lips and upper mouth. [Robson * , p.79.] The astrological influences of the constellation Leo Ptolemy makes the following observations: "Of the stars in Leo , two in the head are like Saturn and partly like Mars. The three in the neck are like Saturn, and in some degree like Mercury. . . . Those in the loins . . . Saturn and Venus: those in the thighs resemble Venus, and, in some degree, Mercury." It is said that the stars in the neck, back and wing all bring trouble, disgrace and sickness affecting the part of the body ruled by the sign, especially if they happen to be in conjunction with the Moon.

By the Kabalists, Leo is associated with the Hebrew letter Kaph and the 11th Tarot Trump "Strength." [Robson * , p.48.] The astrological influences of the constellation Leo given by Manilius: "Who can doubt the nature of the monstrous Lion, and the pursuits he prescribes for those born beneath his sign? The lion ever devises fresh fights and fresh warfare on animals, and lives on spoil and pillaging of flocks. The sons of the Lion are filled with the urge to adorn their proud portals with pelts and to hang up on their walls the captured prey, to bring the peace of terror to the woods, and to live upon plunder. There are those whose like bent is not checked by the city-gates, but they swagger about in the heart of the capital with droves of beasts; they display mangled limbs at the shop-front, slaughter to meet the demands of luxury, and count it gain to kill.

Their temper is equally prone to fitful wrath and ready withdrawal, and guileless are the sentiments of their honest hearts" [ Astronomica , Manilius, 1st century AD, p.237.] The astrological influences of the star Regulus Notes: A triple star, flushed white and ultramarine, situated on the body of the Lion. From Regulus, a Little King, and often called Cor Leonis, the Lion's Heart, and symbolically the Crushing Foot. It was one of the four Royal Stars of the Persians in 3,000 B.C., when, as Watcher of the North, it marked the summer solstice. [Robson * , p.194-195.] According to Ptolemy it is of the nature of Mars and Jupiter, but most later authors liken it to Mars only, while Alvidas states that it is similar to the Sun in good aspect to Uranus.

It gives violence, destructiveness, military honor of short duration, with ultimate failure, imprisonment, violent death, success, high and lofty ideals and strength of spirit, and makes its natives magnanimous, grandly liberal, generous, ambitious, fond of power, desirous of command, high-spirited and independent. [Robson * , p.195.] It may convey royal properties, noble mind, frankness, courage. The importance of this star is accentuated by its nearness to the ecliptic. Its effect is in the best sense that of Jupiter and Mars. On the Ascendant, it will give a courageous and frank character, especially if in conjunction with the Sun, Moon, Jupiter or Mercury. Positioned on the MC, Regulus will raise the native to high positions in life, positions far exceeding the environment the native was born into. On the MC it is not only a good omen for a military career, but also for careers connected with the public, such as lawyers, civil servants, bankers and the clergy, especially if Regulus is also in conjunction with the Sun or Moon or with a benefic stellar body.

According to tradition, Regulus conjunct MC will bring with it connections with rulers, honorable people or famous people. If the cosmogram as a whole points to this possibility, Jupiter conjunct Regulus is one of the best configurations for success. People like this can reach high positions, positions of trust, preferment and favors; fortunes. Riches and power could fall to these natives easily. Elsbeth Ebertin had this star near the MC (the author of this book, 'Fixed Stars and Their Interpretations' and mother of Reinhold Ebertin author of 'C.O.S.I.'). An old saying goes that Regulus in the 10th house 'makes astrologers to kings. people in high positions and noble men'. Naturally not everyone who has this configuration will make a 'Royal Astrologer' even if he has the necessary knowledge and capabilities. But with Frau Ebertin, this rule was borne out. During the first world war, her book 'Royal Nativities' was published. There followed commissions from royal houses and ruling industrialists (listed in the book Fixed Stars and their Interpretations by Ebertin-Hoffman).

Elsbeth Ebertin studied historical events with the planetary configurations in each case and came to the following conclusion; "when Mars or Saturn are in conjunction with Regulus, especially exciting events are always recorded e.g. assassinations, coup d'états, revolutions, revolts, demonstrations, overthrow of heads of state and similar events". [ Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation , Elsbeth Ebertin, 1928, p51-52.] If Rising: Great honor and wealth, but violence and trouble, sickness, fevers, acute disease, benefits seldom last, favor of the great, victory over enemies and scandal. The 145th Consideration of Guido Bonnets is as follows: -" That thou see in Diurnal Nativities whether Cor Leonis be in the Ascendant, that is to say, in the Oriental Line or above it one degree or below it three degrees; or whether it be in the tenth in like degrees, without the Conjunction or Aspect of any of the Fortunes, for this alone signifies that the Native shall be a person of great note and power, too much exalted, and attain to high preferment and honors, although descended from the meanest parents.

And, if any of the Fortunes behold that place also, his glory shall be the more increased; but, if the Nativity be nocturnal, his fortune will be somewhat meaner, but not much; but if the Infortunes cast their aspects there it will still be more mean; but if the Fortunes behold it also they will augment the good promised a fourth part, and mitigate the evil as much; yet still, whatever of all this happens, it signifies that the Native shall die an unhappy death; or at least that all his honors, greatness and power shall at last suffer an eclipse and set in a cloud". [Robson * , p.195.] If culminating: Honor, preferment, good fortune, high office under Government, military success. If with Sun, Moon or Jupiter, great honor and ample fortune. [Robson * , p.196.] If with a malefic and the Moon with Antares (9 Sagittarius), Praesepe or the Pleiades (stars in Taurus ), blindness or injuries to the eyes.

[Robson * , p.196.] With Sun: Power, authority, great influence over friends, honor and riches, but violence, trouble and ultimate disgrace and ruin, sickness, fevers, benefits seldom last. [Robson * , p.196.] With Moon: Occult interests, powerful friends, danger from enemies and false friends, gain by speculation, public prominence, great power, honor, wealth, benefits seldom last, violence, trouble and sickness. Make women high spirited and independent. If at the same time the Sun is with the Dragon's Head in Gemini, or Jupiter is in the 10th house in trine to Mars and the Sun is with the Dragon's Head, great preferment even from the lowest sphere to high rank. [Robson * , p.196.] With Mercury: Honorable, just, popular, generosity abused by opponents, fame, gain through high position. [Robson * , p.196.] With Venus: Many disappointments, unexpected happenings, violent attachments, trouble through love affairs. [Robson * , p.196.] With Mars: Honor, fame, strong character public prominence, high military command.

[Robson * , p.197.] With Jupiter: Fame, high preferment, especially of a military nature, success in the Church. [Robson * , p.197.] With Saturn: Just, friends among clergy, success in Church or law, scholarly, wealth, gain through speculation, companies and friends, high position, proud of home and family, good health, heart trouble at end of life. If angular and especially if rising or culminating, public honor and credit. If Mars be with the Pleiades, violent death in a tumult. [Robson * , p.197.] With Uranus: Energetic, ambitious, successful, may be unjust or dishonorable, self-aggrandizement, high official position, panders to aristocracy, associated with religion for business purposes, gain through speculation and companies, favorable for marriage, sorrow through death of daughter and disappointment through a son; friends become enemies at end of life, may retire and live in seclusion, violent death through accident or assassination.

[Robson * , p.197.] With Neptune: Prominent leader, lawgiver, diplomatic, strong character, control over others, influential friends, few if any enemies, domestic harmony, natural death in old age. [Robson * , p.197.] References: Transit Date of principal star: 22 February The first on the list of Heracles' labours was the task of killing the Nemean Lion, a giant beast that roamed the hills and the streets of the Peloponnesian villages, devouring whomever it met. The animal's skin was impervious to iron, bronze, and stone. Heracles' arrows harmlessly bounced off the lion; his sword bent in two; his wooden club smashed to pieces. So Heracles wrestled with the beast, finally choking it to death. He then wrapped the lion's pelt about him; it would protect him from the next labour: killing the poisonous Hydra. As the story goes, the lion found its way to the heavens to commemorate the great battle with Heracles. Yet this isn't all there is to the story. For even in antiquity, long before the Greeks began telling stories, the lion was an ancient symbol of power.

Approximately three thousand years before the Christian era carvings and sculptures showed kings flanked with rampant lions. Indeed, the archaeological evidence suggests that at about this time the lion had already replaced an even earlier "sacred" symbol, the bull. It has been suggested that this transfer of power from a horned animal to the lion was a change-over from a lunar-based to a solar-based religion. That is, instead of drawing their inspiration from a night-time symbol with a monthly cycle--a symbol which dealt with the fecundity of the earth and of its animals--the new rulers identified with an animal of strength and power, and with a heavenly body that ruled the day. Thus, as the bull had been identified with the moon, the lion was now associated with the sun. To assert this new religion, or new political structure, the lion was made to kill the bull. Its place in the heavens was therefore critical. An intriguing theory, put forth thirty years ago by Professor Willy Hartner, eloquently describes the result. Briefly put, at about 4000 BC, the Lion is seen chasing the Bull over the horizon, announcing the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

I shall quote Professor Hartner's descriptive words: "The constellation Leo would have been directly overhead, standing at zenith and displaying thereby its maximum power [as it] kills and destroys the Bull trying to escape below the horizon, which during the subsequent days disappears in the Sun's rays to remain invisible for a period of forty days, after which it is reborn, rising again for the first time (March 21) to announce Spring equinox." [See W. Hartner, "The Earliest History of the Constellations in the Near East and the Motif of the Lion-Bull Combat" JNES 24(1965)1-16.] Thus Leo, slayer of Taurus, dominated the summer skies, the time that the sun passed through this constellation. Due to precession, the sun currently passes through Leo at the end of summer, from mid-August through mid-September. Leo is a fairly compact constellation and, unlike so many other constellations, it is readily recognisable. Alpha Leonis is named "Regulus" because it was seen as the Heaven's Guardian, one who regulated all things in the heavens.

While the name Regulus was given us by Copernicus, the star was better known in antiquity as Cor Leonis, the Lion's Heart. Regulus is a multiple binary, discussed below. Also, because Regulus lies so close to the ecliptic, the moon often passes close by, and even occults the star on very rare occasions. Like other ancient constellations, many of the stars in Leo are named. Beta Leonis is called "Denebola": the Lion's Tail. Gamma Leonis is "Algeiba", Arabic for forehead, but more correctly named Juba, meaning mane. Zeta Leonis is "Aldhafera", the meaning is uncertain; Epsilon Leonis and mu Leonis go under the name of "Al Ashfar", the eyebrows. Delta Leonis is "Zosma", a Greek word meaning girdle. Lambda Leonis is Alterf, apparently meaning "extremity". It's located right at the tip of the lion's mouth. Double stars in Leo: Alpha Leonis (Regulus) is a multiple system.

Component B is very wide: (8.1m, PA 307 degrees, 177"), and this star has its own companion ("C"), a very faint 13m dwarf, with a period of about 2000 years, now approximately 2.6" and a PA of about 86 degrees. A fourth companion, D, is only optical. That is, there is no gravitational bond with the others, but before that was established, it too became a part of the group. It is found at 274 degrees, and 217". Gamma Leonis is a notable binary with a slow orbit. While Burnham lists three possible periods (407y, 701.4, and 618.6) we have settled on the latter as the most probable, and based its orbit on this period. Presently the companion is very gradually drawing away from the primary. The current values are: PA 124 degrees and separation 4.4". Iota Leonis is a more rapid binary, with a period of 192 years.

Its orbit shows that the 6.7m companion is slowly increasing its distance (now at PA 122 degrees and separation 1.62"). Variable stars in Leo: R Leonis is the only variable of note in Leo. This isn't your typical Mira-type long-period variable. First of all, it's usually a very faint 11.3m star, which grows to an extremely bright 4.4m every 309.95 days. In 2000 the maximum should arrive in the last week of February. Secondly, its colour is an unusually deep red, approaching purple. Surrounded by a number of white stars (18, 19, 21 Leo.) its own colour is even more pronounced. Thus R Leonis has become a favourite subject for many variable star observers. Deep Sky Objects in Leo: Leo has five Messier objects: M65, M66, M95, M96, and M105.

M65 (NGC 3623) and M66 (NGC 3627) make a splendid pair of spiral galaxies in the same field, between theta Leonis and iota Leonis. This is a fine binocular duo, or use a small telescope. M66 is the one to the east. Both galaxies are elongated north-south; M65 has a tighter spiral and is perhaps the more noticeable. About a degree north, hovering just between M65 and M66, is NGC 3628, a galaxy seen edge-on. Actually this is larger than either Messier object, but much dimmer because it is seen edge-on. M95 (NGC 3351) and M96 (NGC 3368) form another nice pair, although farther apart. The two are found is a group of galaxies midway between alpha Leonis and theta Leonis, and just slightly to the south. Of the two, M95 is to the west. This is a curious round object, with a very faint circular bar. M96 is a tight spiral galaxy, much brighter than its neighbour.

Both this pair and M65/M66 are considered to be about 30 million light years away. M105 (NGC 3379) is a much dimmer galaxy to the north-north-east of M96. Along with NGC 3384 and NGC 3389, which lie just to the east, this object forms a small triangle of galaxies. Then there is NGC 2903, which somehow escaped Messier's telescope. This deep sky object is judged to be a visual magnitude of 8.9, which makes it brighter than any of the above Messier objects, and covering a larger area as well. It is an elongated multiple-armed spiral located directly south of lambda Leonis, one and a half degrees. Indeed, there are many more galaxies in Leo to explore. Most of them lie between alpha and beta Leonis, with a smaller group scattered around gamma Leonis. Most of them are 10-12m, so the larger the telescope the more favourable the viewing. If you wish a real deep sky challenge, try Wolf 359.

This is an extremely faint red dwarf, and the third closest star, at 7.65 light years. It has a visual magnitude of only 13.53, which renders it all but lost among the millions of other stars. Only as large as Jupiter, it has a luminosity about 1/65,000 of the Sun's; its absolute magnitude is calculated at 16.7m. Its Epoch 2000 values are: right ascension 10h 56m, declination 07 degrees, one second. If using Tirion's SkyAtlas 2000.0, while this chart doesn't show the star, you can easily find the region. Locate 56 Leo (west of sigma Leonis) then place a mark on the ecliptic just above this star. (The ecliptic is the dotted line running north of this star). This is where you'll find Wolf 359. Now you'll need Burnham's finder (on his page 1072), a nice dark sky, and plenty of patience.

The Leonid Meteor Showers The Leonids are meteor showers which appear every 16-17 November, so called because their radiant point is in the Sickle of the Lion. While Leo is only visible very early in the morning at this time of year, the meteors stream across the west, through Hydra, Canis Minor, and even Orion. The meteors are debris from the Tempel-Tuttle comet, which orbits the sun every 33 years. While the showers usually bring 10-20 meteors per hour, three times a century the meteor shower is particularly dense, several hundred per hour with a quick burst of 1000 or more per hour. These denser showers usually occur in years ending in 33, 66, and 99. The 1966 display was one of the better, with around 5000 meteors in one span of twenty minutes. By contrast, 1999 saw a very brief burst of around 2000 meteors as recorded by observers in the Middle East, while North American residents would only view several dozen per hour. For a more detailed appreciation of Leo, visit the Binocular Section.

Return to the previous page: Or go to Leo Constellation: Facts About the Lion Leo Constellation: Facts About the Lion By Kim Ann Zimmermann | August 1, 2012 10:58am ET MORE Leo the Lion is one of the earliest recognized constellations. The Mesopotamians are known to have documented the “lion” constellation. The Persians called it Ser or Shir; the Turks, Artan; the Syrians, Aryo; the Jewish, Arye; the Indians, Simha. These are all translated as “lion.” Hunting the lion Leo is a highly recognizable constellation, as it is one of the few constellations that resemble its namesake. It is fairly easy to find because the “pointer stars” of the Big Dipper point to Leo. March does come in with a lion. The constellation becomes visible in the Northern Hemisphere around the spring equinox and is easily identifiable through May. Leo lies between Cancer to the west and Virgo to the east. Right ascension: 11 hours Visible between latitudes 90 and minus 65 degrees Best seen in April at 9 p.m.

This sky chart shows where the constellation Leo, the Lion and its trademark sickle appear in the eastern sky as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere during spring. This chart is where the constellation appears at 8 p.m. EDT as viewed from the U.S. East Coast. Credit: Starry Night Software The constellation can be found by looking for the "sickle" starting at the Regulus (Alpha Leonis) star. Regulus, Al Jabbah, and Algieba, together with the fainter stars ζ Leo (Adhafera), μ Leo (Ras Elased Borealis), and ε Leo (Ras Elased Australis), constitute the sickle. Another star in the planet is Al Geiba, the brightest star in the curve of the sickle, means "the lion’s mane." In January 2001, a large object eight times the size of Jupiter was discovered orbiting Al Geiba.

A triangle of stars forms the lion’s haunches, with the brightest star of this trio being Denebola, which means "tail of the lion." There are a number of luminous galaxies within Leo, including the Leo triplet of M66, M65 and NGC 3628. The Leo Ring, a cloud of hydrogen and helium gas, orbits of two dwarf galaxies. Triplet of bright galaxies in the constellation of Leo (The Lion), together with a multitude of fainter objects: distant background galaxies and much closer Milky Way stars. The image hints at the power of the VST and OmegaCAM for surveying the extragalactic Universe and for mapping the low brightness objects of the galactic halo. Credit: ESO/INAF-VST/OmegaCAM. Acknowledgement: OmegaCen/Astro-WISE/Kapteyn Institute Mythology Leo is the Nemean Lion, which was killed by Hercules on one of the 12 labors he had to perform for killing his family. According to Greek mythology, the lion that terrorized the citizens had a hide that could not punctured by iron, bronze or stone.

Having broken all of his weapons fighting the man-eating lion, Hercules finally strangled it to death and placed it in the heavens as one of his conquests. Astrology is not a science , but Leo is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac . Leo is the fifth sign of the Zodiac and represents those born July 22 to August 22. It is considered a masculine, extroverted sign. — Kim Ann Zimmermann Constellations ancient and modern grace the skies year round. Let's see what you know about the star patterns that appear overhead every night. Leo Leo Clues to the meaning of this celestial feature Leo the Lion, from Latin leo, 'lion', the word was borrowed by the Greeks from some unknown source. The Latin word is related to Greek leon, leontos (earlier *lewon, *lewontos), which appears in the name of the Spartan king Leonidas, Lion's son. The Greek word is somehow related to Coptic labai, laboi, lioness. In turn, Coptic labai is borrowed from a Semitic source related to Hebrew labi and Akkadian labbu [ AHD ].

Compare also Homeric liz, 'lion', which is probably a loan word from Hebrew layish, 'lion' [ Klein ]. Related names: Lionel, Leander, Leonard, Leonid, Leonine. In Greek and Roman myth Leo represented the Nemean Lion slain by Hercules, giving the titles for this constellation: Nemeaeus, Nemeas Alumnus, Nemees Terror, Nemeaeum Monstrum. The first of Hercules ' twelve labors was to slay the Nemean Lion and bring back its skin to his cousin Eurystheus who had set twelve labors for him. The name Nemea is believed to be cognate with Latin nemus, from Greek nemos, 'grove' [ Klein ].

“A grove (nemus) is named for divinity (numen), because pagans set up their idols there, for groves are sites with larger trees, shady with foliage.” [ The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville , 7th century AD, p.341.] "Etymologically the Latin word numen originally and literally meant 'nodding.' It has the sense of inherent vitality and presiding, and was also associated with meanings of 'command' or 'divine majesty'" [ 1 ]. This is also how Varro understood it to mean: "By invoking your name And your numen with many a prayer. Numen ‘divine will or sway,' they say, is imperium ‘power,' and is derived from nutus ‘nod,' because he at whose nutus ‘nod’ everything is, seems to have the greatest imperium ‘power’; therefore Homer uses this word in application to Jupiter, and so does Accius a number of times.

[ Varro: On The Latin Language , 1st century AD, p.339.] Latin numen, 'divine will, divine command', properly 'divine approval expressed by nodding the head', from nuere, 'to nod', which is cognate with Greek neuein, 'to nod' [ Klein ], from the Indo-European root *neu-2 'To nod'. Derivatives: nutation (nodding the head), innuendo, numen (plural numina), numinous (characterized by a sense of a supernatural presence). [Pokorny 2. neu- 767. Watkins ] [The changing of names of the crown prince of Nemea, must have some significance; Nemea might also relate to the word 'name' from Indo-European root * no-men - 'Name'?] Nemea in Southern Greece on the Peloponnesian Peninsula was also famous in Greek myth as the place where the infant Opheltes , the crown prince of Nemea, lying on a bed of parsley, was killed by a serpent while his nurse fetched water for the Seven against Thebes .

The Seven founded the Nemean Games , as a funerary festival, in his memory which were one of the four great Greek athletic festivals conducted every second year, starting in 573 B.C., and the crown of victory was made of parsley (others say celery). This infant who before he was killed by a serpent was called Opheltes (from Greek ophis, serpent - the infant was found dead within the coils of a snake [ 1 ]). The Seven Heroes renamed him Archemoros, from arche beginning + moros, death; 'Beginner of Death'. Other legends attribute the institution of the Nemean games to Heracles, after he had slain the Nemean Lion [ 2 ]. Regulus , the alpha star of Leo, was referred to in Greek as Basiliskos by Ptolemy, translated "Little King", and his name was also believed to be related to the basilisk serpent . Greek βασιλίσκος Basilískos, "little king"; is translated into Latin as Regulus, the word being a diminutive of Latin rex, "king". There seems to be no myth or legend linked to the naming of Regulus.

It seems likely to me that there could be a connection between the infant Opheltes, whose name is from Greek ophis, serpent, and Latin Regulus, Greek Basilískos; both names translated "little king", and the Greek name also meaning a type of snake. The comparison of the resurrected Christ to a lion's whelp was made in the second century AD Physiologus , the story is told of the lion whose cubs are born dead and receive life after three days when the father lion comes and roars over them, or vivifies them by his breath [ 3 , p.73]. "Just so did the Father Omnipotent raise Our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day" [ The Book of Beasts : p.8]. The lion traditionally symbolizes royalty, and rulers. Greek leon was sometimes translated as 'king' (rex) from Greek into Latin, because the lion is the king of all the beasts. [ 4 ]. Regulus is the alpha star of Leo, from Latin rex, "king", from the Indo-European root * reg -, 'To move in a straight line, with derivatives meaning to direct in a straight line, lead, rule.

right just, correct, straight'.

Derivatives: right (as in a privilege or legal claim, also 'morally correct, just, good, fair, proper, fitting, straight'), realm, rectitude, recto, rector, rectum (the straight portion of the lower bowel.), rectus (straight muscles, as of the abdomen, eye, neck, and thigh.), regent, regime, regimen, regiment, region (an area ruled), address, adroit, alert, correct, direct, dirge (Latin dirige (first word of the antiphon in the funeral service, Psalm 5:8), imperative singular of dirigere to guide ), dirigible (to steer, an airship), dress (arrange, make straight, prepare), address, droit (claim due), adroit (deft skillful), direction, director, erect (vertical, 'Homo erectus', 'upright man'), erection, incorrigible, rectangle, resurge, resurrect, resurrection, source, surge (Latin surgere, to rise : sub-, from below; + regere, ), Reich, rich, regal, regulus, reign, royal, viceroy, raj, rajah, maharajah, rail, regular, regulate, rule

, rake (for raking grass), rack, reckon (counting up), abrogate, arrogant, arrogate ('claim for oneself' without right'), interrogate, prerogative, surrogate, ergo (in consequence of), reck (to take heed), reckless.

[Pokorny 1. reg- 854. Watkins ] Jason, leader of the Argo nauts, was compared to a lion when he and the Argonauts were stranded in the Libyan desert: "He spoke, and leapt to his feet, and shouted afar to his comrades, all squalid with dust, like a lion when he roars through the woodland seeking his mate; and far off in the mountains the glens tremble at the thunder of his voice; and the oxen of the field and the herdsmen shudder with fear" [ The Argonautica , Apollonius Rhodius, 2nd century B.C.] “Hercules killed an enormous lion in Greece and set it among the twelve signs as a mark of his own valor. When the sun reaches this sign, it gives excessive heat to the world, and causes the annual Etesian winds.” [ The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville , 7th century AD, p.106.] On page 253 of Star Names Allen says the Syrians called Leo Aryo; the Jews, Arye; meaning a Lion.

Ari or Aryeh, is the Hebrew for "lion", cognate with Akkadian aria, Aramaic arya. Aryeh in Sanskrit (a PIE, Proto-Indo-European, language) means "noble" and in Hebrew means "lion". Ari was used in Hebrew as an honorific for an important man. The Hebrew name Ari-el translates to "lion of God" [ 9 ]. The word Aryan is a synonym for Indo-European (people and language). The original word in Vedic Language for Lion is 'Hari' [ 10 ] which is phonically similar to ari. Linguists say that the Indo-European languages are not related to Hebrew and might deny a link in this case, but they are unsure of some words and they term the Hebrew words that have strayed into these languages "borrowings". The term "Arya" derived from the Proto-Indo-European, generally carries the meaning of "noble" or "free", is cognate with the Greek-derived word "aristocrat" [ 11 ].

The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius: "Who can doubt the nature of the monstrous Lion, and the pursuits he prescribes for those born beneath his sign? The lion ever devises fresh fights and fresh warfare on animals, and lives on spoil and pillaging of flocks. The sons of the Lion are filled with the urge to adorn [or 'dress'; from * reg -] their proud portals with pelts and to hang up on their walls the captured prey, to bring the peace of terror to the woods, and to live upon plunder. There are those whose like bent is not checked by the city-gates, but they swagger about in the heart of the capital with droves of beasts; they display mangled limbs at the shop-front, slaughter to meet the demands of luxury, and count it gain to kill. Their temper is equally prone to fitful wrath and ready withdrawal, and guileless are the sentiments of their honest hearts" [Manilius, Astronomica , 1st century AD, p.237.] © Anne Wright 2008. from Star Names , 1889, Richard H.

Allen In pride the Lion lifts his mane To see his British brothers reign As stars below. — Edward Young's Imperium Pelagi. Leo, the Lion, is Lion in France, Lowe in Germany, and Leone in Italy. In Anglo-Norman times it was Leun. It lies between Cancer and Virgo , the bright Denebola 5° north of the faint stars that mark the head of the latter constellation; but Ptolemy extended it to include among its … the group now Coma Berenices . The Loewe Surname: German Löwe: from Middle High German lewe, löuwe ‘lion’, hence a nickname for a brave or regal person. The personal Jewish names Levin, and Levy, also used by German Christians is a derivative of Liebwin. The surname in the sense ‘lion’ is also found in Dutch, Swedish, and Danish.

[ 1 ] In Greek and Roman myth this was respectively Leon and Leo, representing the Nemean Lion, originally from the moon, and, after his earthly stay, carried back to the heavens with his slayer Hercules , where he became the poet's Nemeaeus; Nemeas Alumnus; Nemees Terror; Nemeaeum Monstrum; and, in later times, No Animal Nemaeo truculento of Camoes. It also was Cleonaeum Sidus, from Cleonae, the Argolic town near the Nemean forest where Hercules slew the creature; Herculeus; and Herculeum Astrum. But the Romans commonly knew it as Leo, Ovid writing Herculeus Leo and Violentus Leo. Bacchi Sidus was another of its titles, that god always being identified with this animal, and its shape the one usually adopted by him in his numerous transformations; while a lion's skin was his frequent dress.

But Manilius had it Jovis et Junonis Sidus (Jovis = Roman Jupiter or Greek Zeus; Junonis = Roman Juno or Greek Hera), as being under the guardianship of these deities; and appropriately so, considering its regal character, and especially that of its lucida ( Regulus ). The Egyptian king Necepsos, and his philosopher Petosiris, taught that at the Creation the sun rose here near Denebola ; and hence Leo was Domicilium Solis, the emblem of fire and heat, and, in astrology, the House of the Sun, governing the human heart, and reigning in modern days over Bohemia, France, Italy, and the cities of Bath, Bristol, and Taunton in England, and our Philadelphia. In ancient times Manilius wrote of it as ruling over Armenia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, Macedon, and Phrygia. It was a fortunate sign, with red and green as its colors; and, according to Ampelius, was in charge of the wind Thrascias mentioned by Pliny, Seneca, and Vitruvius as coming from the north by a third northwest.

Ancient physicians thought that when the sun was in this sign medicine was a poison, and even a bath equally harmful (!); while the weather-wise said that thunder {Page 253} foretold sedition and deaths of great men. The adoption of this animal's form for a zodiac sign has fancifully been attributed to the fact that when the sun was among its stars in midsummer the lions of the desert left their accustomed haunts for the banks of the Nile, where they could find relief from the heat in the waters of the inundation; and Pliny is authority for the statement that the Egyptians worshiped the stars of Leo because the rise of their great river was coincident with the sun's entrance among them. For the same reason the great Androsphinx is said to have been sculptured with Leo's body and the head of the adjacent Virgo; although Egyptologists maintain that this head represented one of the early kings, or the god Harmachis.

Distinct reference is made to Leo in an inscription on the walls of the Ramesseum at Thebes, which, like the Nile temples generally, was adorned with the animal's bristles; while on the planisphere of Denderah its figure is shown standing on an outstretched serpent. The Egyptian stellar Lion, however, comprised only a part of ours, and in the earliest records some of its stars were shown as a Knife, as they now are as a Sickle. Kircher gave its title there as Pimentekeon, Cubitus Nili. The Persians called it Ser or Shir; the Turks, Artan; the Syrians, Aryo; the Jews, Arye; and the Babylonians, Aru, — all meaning a Lion; the last title frequently being contracted to their letter equivalent to our A. It was the tribal sign of Judah, allotted to him by his father Jacob as recorded in Genesis xlix, 9, and confirmed by Saint John in The Revelation v, 5; Landseer suggesting that this association was from the fact that Leo was the natal sign of Judah and so borne on his signet-ring given to Tamar.

Christians of the Middle Ages and subsequently, who figured biblical characters throughout the heavens in place of the old mythology, called it one of Daniel’s lions; and the apostolic school, doubting Thomas. On Ninevite cylinders Leo is depicted as in fatal conflict with a bull, typifying the victory of light over darkness; and in Euphratean astronomy it was additionally known as Gisbar-namru-sa-pan, variously translated, but by Bertin as the Shining Disc which precedes Bel; the latter being our Ursa Major, or in some way intimately connected therewith.

Hewitt says that it was the Akkadian Pa-pil-sak, the Sceptre, or the Great Fire; and Sayce identifies it with the Assyrian month Abu, our July-August, the Fiery Hot; Minsheu assigning as the reason for this universal fiery character of the constellation, "because the sunne being in that signe is most raging and hot like a lion." Thus throughout antiquity the animal and the constellation always have been identified with the sun, — indeed in all historic ages till it finally appears {Page 254} on the royal arms of England, as well as on those of many of the early noble families of that country. During the 12th century it was the only animal shown on Anglo-Norman shields. As a zodiacal figure it was of course entirely different from the ancient Asad of Arabia, that somewhat mythical Lion extending from Gemini over our Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, and parts of other constellations, both north and south of the zodiac; but the later Arabians also adopted Ptolemy's Leo and transferred to it the Asad of the early constellation.

This appeared in the various corrupted forms cited by Bayer, — Alasid, Aleser, Asis, Assid, and others similar, of which Assemani gives a long list; Schickard adding Alasado and Asedaton; and Riccioli, specially mentioning Asid and Ellesed, cautioned his readers against the erroneous Alatid and Alezet. Early Hindu astronomers knew it as Asleha, and as Sinha, the Tamil Simham; but the later, influenced by Greece and Rome, as Leya, or Leyaya, from the word Leo. It contained the 8th nakshatra (Moon Mansion), Magha, Mighty, or Generous; as also the 9th and 10th, Purva, and Uttara, Phalguni, the Former, and the Latter, Phalguni, a word of uncertain meaning, — perhaps the Bad One, — the single station being represented by a Fig-tree, and the combined by a Bed or Couch.

Nearly the same stars were included in the 8th, 9th, and 10th manazil of Arabia as Al Jabhah, the Forehead; Al Zubrah, the Mane; and Al Sarfah, the Turn. Of the sieu (Chinese Moon Mansion), however, none appear in Leo, the Chinese having adopted, instead, stations among the stars of Hydra and Crater, so that many infer that their lunar asterisms were original with themselves. In the later native solar zodiac of China the Lion's stars were the Horse, and in the earlier a part of the Red Bird; while Williams says that they also were Shun Ho, the Quail's Fire; but in the 16th century the Chinese formally adopted our Leo, translating it as Sze Tsze. The space between it and Virgo was Tae Wei, or Shaou Wei, and the western half of Leo, with Leo Minor, was regarded as a Yellow Dragon mounting upwards, marked by the line of ten stars from Regulus through the Sickle. It also was another of the Heavenly Chariots of imperial China.

Its symbol, , has been supposed to portray the animal's mane, but seems more appropriate to the other extremity (the tail); the Hyginus of 1488 and the Albumasar of 1489 showing this latter member of extraordinary length, twisting between the hind legs and over the back, the Hyginus properly locating the star Denebola in the end; but the International Dictionary, in a more scholarly way, says that this symbol is a corruption of the initial letter of Leon. Lajard's Culte de Mithra mentions the hieroglyph of Leo {Page 255} as among the symbols of Mithraic worship, but how their Lion agreed, if at all, with ours is not known. One of the sultans of Koniyeh, ancient Iconium, put the stellar figure on his coins. Its drawing has generally been in a standing position, but, in the Leyden Manuscript, in a springing attitude, with the characteristic Sickle fairly represented. Young astronomers know the constellation by this last feature in the fore parts of the figure, the bright Regulus marking the handle; its other stars successively being eta, gamma, zeta, mu, and epsilon.

Nor is this a recent idea, for Pliny is thought to have given it separately from Leo in his list of the constellations; but not much could have been left of the Lion after this subtraction except his tail. These same Sickle stars were a lunar asterism with the Akkadians as Gis-mes, the Curved Weapon; with the Khorasmians and Sogdians as Khamshish, the Scimetar; but with the Copts as Titefui, the Forehead. The sun passes through Leo from the 7th of August to the 14th of September. Argelander catalogues in it 76 stars, and Heis 161. In Leo and Virgo lay the now long forgotten asterism Fahne, of which Ideler wrote: The Flag is a constellation of the heavens, one part in Leo and one part in Virgo. Has many stars. On the iron [the arrowhead of the staff] in front one, on the flag two, on every fold of the flag one.

This is illustrated in the 47th volume of Archaeologia, and it appeared as a distinct constellation in a 15th-century German manuscript, perhaps the original of the work of 1564 from which Ideler quoted. Brown repeats a Euphratean inscription, "The constellation of the Yoke like a flag floated," although he claims no connection here, and associates the Yoke with Capricorn. II Petto del lione ardente. — Dante's Paradise. See Lions In the Night Sky This Month See Lions In the Night Sky This Month By Joe Rao, SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist | April 18, 2013 10:23am ET MORE This sky chart shows where the constellation Leo, the Lion and its trademark sickle appear in the eastern sky as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere during spring. This chart is where the constellation appears at 8 p.m. EDT as viewed from the U.S. East Coast.

Credit: Starry Night Software We all have heard of the term "dog days," which has a direct astronomical connection to the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, in the constellation of Canis Major, the so-called "big dog" of the night sky. Sirius is the brightest star in the sky, and during the months of June and July the ancients felt that the close proximity of Sirius (the "dog star") to the brightest star of the daytime ( the sun ) resulted in the extreme heat of the summer season; hence such sultry days have come to be known as dog days. If we can have dog days, then why not "cat nights?" There is actually an obscure Irish legend about cat nights that deals with witches changing into a feline form, but there is no astronomical connection whatsoever. [ Dazzling Night Sky Photos by Stargazers (April 2013 Gallery) ] However, if you venture outside on these chilly early spring evenings, there are several members of the cat family that can be seen riding high overhead and toward the south as darkness falls. Leo is king As the winter stars begin to depart in the west this first full month of spring, the ancient lion Leo dominates high in the southern sky.

Leo is among the most ancient of the constellations, with a backward-question mark curve of six stars in the creature’s head appearing to form a large stellar sickle; a star pattern resembling a large backward question mark. To modern sky-watchers, the sickle outlines the majestic head and mane of a great westward-facing lion. Blue-white Regulus is the brightest of these stars at the end of the sickle’s handle, yet it is still the faintest of the 21 stars in the first-magnitude category. Regulus is 69 light-years away from Earth, and 110 times more luminous than our sun. There are many stories regarding Leo. One of these connects him with the sphinx, that famous giant half-lion, half-human sculpture in the desert. It has been suggested that the sphinx is a representation of both Leo and an adjacent constellation, Virgo . The front half of the sphinx belongs to Virgo while the back end (the lion’s body) belongs to Leo. Interestingly, both constellations stand side-by-side in the sky and the sun is passing through this section of the sky during the Nile’s crucial annual flooding in August and September.

Though they look serene and silent from our vantage on Earth, stars are actually roiling balls of violent plasma. Test your stellar smarts with this quiz. 0 of 10 questions complete Star Quiz: Test Your Stellar Smarts Though they look serene and silent from our vantage on Earth, stars are actually roiling balls of violent plasma. Test your stellar smarts with this quiz. 0 of Start Over | More Quizzes Leo may also have represented the famed Nemean Lion — a veritable "super lion" that legend said terrorized the Valley of Nemea and was unaffected by ordinary weaponry (such as arrows and spears) due to its impenetrable hide. Next to Regulus, the brightest star in the sickle is Algeiba, in its curved blade. To the naked eye it appears as a single star, but a moderately large telescope clearly shows it to be one of the most beautiful double stars in the sky. It should really be observed in twilight or bright moonlight to reveal the contrasting colors — one star greenish; the other a delicate yellow. [ See the Nearest Stars to Earth (Infographic) ] Eastward from the sickle, there is a right triangle of stars which also belongs to Leo.

At the eastern point of this triangle you will find Denebola, marking the tip of the Lion’s tail. Not catty here … The Lion is a member of the cat family, but although there are three constellations that represent dogs, there are no cats. Actually, at one time, there was a cat among the stars. More than 200 years ago, some star atlases included Felis, the creation of 18th century Frenchman, Joseph Jerome Le Francais de Lalande (1732-1807). He explained his choice: "I am very fond of cats. I will let this figure scratch on the chart. The starry sky has worried me quite enough in my life, so that now I can have my joke with it." Although this celestial feline does not exist today, cat fanciers might be consoled by the fact that along with Leo, there are two other members of the cat family that are well situated and close together in the current evening sky: a smaller lion, Leo Minor (perhaps we could call it the "lion cub?") and Lynx. Look hard!

Lynx, is one of only two animal constellations that has identical Latin and English names. But unfortunately, it is quite dim and rather hard to visualize. Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687) a 17th century Renaissance man placed it in the sky. Besides being an astronomer, Hevelius was an artist, engraver, well-to-do man of affairs and a leading citizen of Danzig, Poland. Interestingly, the old astronomy books and sky charts, which depicted the constellations as allegorical drawings, placed the brightest star of Lynx in the tuft of its tail. Looking at some of those old star atlases, it would seem that our nearby lion cub, Leo Minor , is about to provoke a cat fight by biting Lynx’s tail. Ouch! In our current time, with light pollution proliferating in so many parts of our modern world, Lynx is a star pattern that likely will never be seen by most modern stargazers. Even in Hevelius’ time, where the night sky was much darker, finding this big cat was a bit of a stretch. In creating Lynx, Hevelius chose an animal that possesses excellent eyesight.

Yet Hevelius himself openly professed that you would have to have a lynx’s eyes to see it! Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for The New York Times and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, New York. Follow us @Spacedotcom , Facebook and Google+ . Original article on SPACE.com . The Mythology of the Constellations: Leo Leo The Lion The zodiacal constellation Leo is generally accepted to represent the Nemean Lion, killed by Hercules during his first labor. According to myth, the Nemean lion had an impenetrable skin. Hercules got around this potentially serious obstacle by wrestling the lion and strangling it to death. He then removed one of its claws, and used it to skin the animal. From then on, Hercules wore the skin of the Nemean Lion as protection. Leo is easy to locate; following the pointer stars of the Big Dipper south approximates the location of the bright blue-white star Regulus in Leo's chest. Back to the main myth page.

These pages are the work of Cathy Bell cmbell (at) comfychair (dot) org originally for the Princeton University course CLA 212. LEO LEO Pages where LEO is discussed in Chet Raymo 's 365 Starry Nights: 45,58-65,79 What is the Genitive form? What is Right Ascension (RA)? Is this constellation ever visible from my latitude? What is Declination ? Where should I look for a constellation on a date before or after its midnight culmination? What is Midnight Culmination ? Skylore Leo is perhaps as ancient a constellation as Taurus the Bull, and was associated with kings of Mesopotamian city states in the third millenium B.C. Regulus obtained much of its significance as a prominent marker of the yearly path of the Sun, lying almost on the ecliptic. The Sun now passes through Leo in late August. The thick, tough skin of the fiercest lion in the world became the trademark of Hercules after the hero strangled the lion to complete his first test. Description East of the Gemini twins lies Leo the Lion. Find the bowl of the Big Dipper.

From the two stars on the handle-side, trace a line back to Leo and its bright star Regulus. Regulus, the star of kings, is the point beneath a backward question mark. This backward question mark, or sickle, represents Leo's mane. His flank is a triangle of stars farther east. In mid-November every year, a shower of meteors originates from the sickle area of Leo. Meteors have nothing to do with meteorites. Meteorites are rocks that land from space. Meteors or "shooting stars" are the flaming trails of dust and debris left in the wake of a comet, burning up as they enter the Earth's atmosphere. The Leonid meteor shower, November 17, is due to dust thrown off from the parent comet, Tempel-Tuttle. Great meteor storms were associated with the Leonid meteor shower in 902 AD, "the year of the stars," and in 1833. One of the Ten Commandments of astronomers is never to build up false expectations for a meteor shower. Will the Leonid meteor shower put on a dramatic show this year? No. Most of the night nothing will happen, except your fingers and toes may grow cold.

If the sky is clear, you may see 8 to 10 meteors per hour. If you are lucky, they may appear green or blue as well as white, and leave long-enduring trails. Yet the Leonids were dazzling in 1833. Astronomer Agnes Clerke described that shower as follows: On the night of November 12-13, 1833, a tempest of falling stars broke over the Earth.... The sky was scored in every direction with shining tracks and illuminated with majestic fireballs. At Boston, the frequency of meteors was estimated to be about half that of flakes of snow in an average snowstorm. Their numbers... were quite beyond counting.... Some of the meteors were said to be as bright as streaking full moons. The sudden and awful display prompted fervent prayers of repentance in the belief that the day of judgment was at hand. A line running through the two stars of the bowl of the Big Dipper on the side nearest the handle points almost directly to two other notable stars. Follow them below the bowl of the Dipper to Regulus, the heart of Leo the Lion. Leo's mane looks like a backward question mark.

Regulus, the "dot" at the bottom of the mark, lies nearly on the ecliptic. Legend: In the constellation chart above... Star colors represent their spectral types (even for double stars). Bright star labels are yellow; significant other stars are labelled in magenta. The size of each star indicates its relative magnitude . Constellation names are light blue. Grid lines represent either 10 degree intervals of declination above or below the equator, or intervals of one hour (=15 degrees) of right ascension (measured along the equator). Messier object numbers are pink. Galaxies are ovals: blue if spiral, yellow if elliptical, light blue if irregular. Globular clusters are gold starbursts. Open clusters are dotted white circles. Planetary nebula are green diamonds. Bright nebula are magenta squares. Dark nebula are grey rectangles. Green x's are x-ray sources. Purple O's with a diagonal slash through them are quasars. Star chart created with Voyager II Software for Macintosh, published by Carina Software. This is just a taste of what Voyager can do!

For info on Voyager II software, call Carina Software at (510) 355-1266, write them at 12919 Alcosta Blvd Suite #7, San Ramon, CA 94583, or visit Carina Software's home page and check out Voyager II for yourself. Asterisms The "Sickle," or backward question mark, forms the head and mane of the lion. Regulus is the bottom-dot of the question mark. What is an Asterism ? Special Stars Regulus in Latin means royalty (little king), and is the brightest star in Leo, the king of the zodiacal animals. Prior to Copernicus, who gave it its name, it was called Cor Leonis, the heart of the Lion. Regulus is a bluish-white star approximately 85 light years away. Starstruck Tonight ©1997 Welcome to the Basic Celestial Phenomena web site.

To provide explanations of basic observational astronomy to students, teachers, families, and visitors to planetariums these pages have been written by an ex-OBU Planetarium Director, Kerry Magruder; the OBU Natural Sciences Coordinator, Mike Keas; and some of the students who work in the OBU planetarium. The source for the logo is not a medieval woodcut! These web pages may be printed, copied, and distributed for educational use by any non-profit educational group so long as they are not edited or altered in any way, nor distributed for profit, nor repackaged or incorporated into any other medium or product, and so long as full credit is given to Kerry Magruder. If you find a link that does not work, please tell us which link does not work--and which page you are on. Contact us by Email with general inquiries or suggestions. Thank you.

Question: Anchored by the star Regulus, what animal does the constellation Leo represent?
Answer: Lion