Leo constellation: how to find it, when to see it and what is in it
In short
A spring zodiac constellation and one of the few that really looks like its name. The lion's head and mane are the Sickle — six stars like a backwards question mark with Regulus at the bottom; the hindquarters and tail form a triangle ending in Denebola. From March to May it is high in the south in the evening. The Leonids radiate from here every November.
Area: 947 square degrees, 12 of 88 · Neighbours: Cancer, Coma Berenices, Crater, Hydra, Leo Minor, Sextans, Ursa Major, Virgo · Updated 10 October 2026
How to find Leo
- 1
Look south in spring
From March to May in the evening, high in the south. A line down from the Big Dipper bowl (from Megrez through Phecda) points to Leo.
- 2
Find the Sickle
Six stars in a backwards question mark — the head and mane. At the bottom of the Sickle sits Regulus, the constellation's brightest star.
- 3
Complete the body
East of the Sickle a triangle of stars marks the hindquarters and tail, with Denebola at its tip.
When it is visible over London
| Month | Where and when | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| January | in the south, around 02:56 | before dawn |
| February — march | in the south, around 00:44 | around midnight |
| April | in the south, around 22:01 | in the evening |
| May | in the southwest, around 22:24 | in the evening |
| June | in the west, around 23:21 | in the evening |
| July — september | — | not visible, behind the Sun |
| October | in the east, around 06:04 | before dawn |
| November | in the southeast, around 05:58 | before dawn |
| December | in the south, around 04:59 | before dawn |
Stars of the constellation
| Star | What it is | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Regulus · α Leo | blue-white main-sequence star | 1.4ᵐ |
| Denebola · β Leo | white main-sequence star | 2.1ᵐ |
| Zosma · δ Leo | white main-sequence star | 2.6ᵐ |
| Algieba · γ¹ Leo | orange giant | 2.6ᵐ |
| ε Leo | yellow bright giant | 3.0ᵐ |
| Chertan · θ Leo | white main-sequence star | 3.3ᵐ |
| Adhafera · ζ Leo | yellow-white giant | 3.4ᵐ |
| η Leo | white supergiant | 3.5ᵐ |
Leo FAQ
When is the best time to see Leo?
Where is Leo in the sky?
What is the brightest star in Leo?
Neighbouring and other constellations
Related
Constellation lines: Stellarium, CC BY-SA · star names: IAU WGSN, CC BY 4.0