Leo

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For other uses, see Leo (disambiguation).Template:Infobox Constellation

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

Contents

1 Notable features

2 Notable deep sky objects

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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 as 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] (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040831.wplanet20831a/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/)

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Notable deep sky objects

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

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Mythology

In Greek mythology, it was identified as the Nemean Lion (and may have been a source of the tale) which was killed by Herakles during one of his twelve labours, and subsequently put into the sky. The Egyptians worshipped the lion because the sun was in this constellation at the time of the life-giving floods of the Nile.

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Astrology

The Western astrological sign Leo of the tropical zodiac (July 23 - August 22) differs from the astronomical constellation and the Hindu astrological sign of the sidereal zodiac (August 10 - September 15).

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). It is the domicile of the Sun. 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.

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Stars

Stars with proper names:

Regulus or Cor Leonis or Kalb [Kabelaced, Al Kalb al Asad] or Rex (32/α Leo) 1.36
< rēgulus The prince
< cor leōnis The heart of the lion
< القلب الأسد al-qalb[u] al-�asad The heart of the lion

Denebola [Deneb Alased, Deneb Aleet] (94/β Leo) 2.14
< الذنب الأسد a�-�anab[u] al-asad The tail of the lion

Algieba [Al Gieba, Algeiba] (41/γ¹ Leo) 2.01
< الجبهة al-jabha[h] The forehead
(or perhaps Arabicized Latin juba The mane)

Zosma [Zozma, Zozca, Zosca, Zubra] or Duhr [Dhur] (68/δ Leo) 2.56

Ras Elased [Ras Elased Australis] or Algenubi (17/ε Leo) 2.97
< رأس الأسد الجنوبي ra�s al-�asad aj-janūbiyy Southern lion head

Adhafera [Aldhafera, Aldhafara] (36/ζ Leo) 3.43
< الضفيرة ađ̧-đ̧afīra[h] The braid/curl (of the mane)

Chertan [Chort] or Coxa (70/θ Leo) 3.33
< ? al-xarat The rib (two small ribs?)
< cōxa The hip
Tsze Tseang (78/ι Leo) 4.00
< 次將 (Mandarin c�ji�ŋ) The vice-general
Al Minliar al Asad (1/κ Leo) 4.47

Alterf or Al Terf (4/λ Leo) 4.32
< الطرف aţ-ţarf The eye, the glance (of the lion)

Rasalas [Ras Elased Borealis, Ras al Asad al Shamaliyy] or Alshemali (24/μ Leo) 3.88
< رأس الأسد الشمالي ra�s al-�asad a�-�amāliyy The northern lion head