Leo is a special group of stars in the sky known as a constellation. It’s one of the 13 constellations that make up the zodiac. You can spot Leo between the constellations Cancer and Virgo. The best time to see Leo is from late March to May if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere. Its name means ‘lion’ in Latin, and it looks like a backwards question mark in the sky!
Leo is one of the oldest constellations people have known about, with stories about it going back over 6,000 years! Many ancient cultures, like the Persians, Babylonians, and Indians, called it the ‘lion.’ In Greek mythology, Leo is linked to the Nemean Lion, a powerful beast that Hercules defeated. Hercules couldn’t use weapons on the lion, so he used his strength to win. To honor this, Zeus put the lion in the sky as stars.
To find Leo in the sky during early spring, face away from the sunset and look east. As spring turns to summer, Leo moves westward and can be seen in the evening sky by June. A cool trick to find Leo is to use the Big Dipper. The two stars at the end of the ‘dipper’ point to the North Star, Polaris. If you follow them in the opposite direction, you’ll find Leo!
Leo has some amazing things to see! Its brightest star is Regulus, which is actually a group of at least four stars close together. Leo also has some bright galaxies, like the Leo Triplet, which is a group of three spiral galaxies. Plus, Leo is famous for the Leonids, a meteor shower that happens every November. It’s a great show for anyone who loves watching the stars!
Leo, the lion constellation, is a fantastic sight for anyone interested in the stars. Whether you’re a pro at stargazing or just starting out, try to find Leo next to the Big Dipper in the spring. Enjoy exploring the wonders of the night sky!
Create Your Own Constellation: Use a piece of black construction paper and some white chalk or stickers to create your own constellation. Think about what animal or object you want your constellation to represent. Once you’ve created it, give it a name and write a short story about how it came to be in the sky, just like the story of Leo and the Nemean Lion.
Star Gazing Journal: On a clear night, go outside with a family member and try to find Leo in the sky. Use the Big Dipper as your guide. Once you spot Leo, draw what you see in a notebook. Write down the date, time, and any other constellations or celestial features you notice. Keep adding to your journal each time you stargaze to see how the sky changes over time.
Mythology Match-Up: Research another constellation and its mythological story. Compare it with the story of Leo and the Nemean Lion. What are the similarities and differences? Share your findings with your class or family. You can even act out the stories with friends to make it more fun!
