Constellation · Lepus · Lep

Lepus constellation: how to find it, when to see it and what is in it

equatorialbest in january2 bright stars

In short

Lepus (Lep) is a equatorial constellation covering 290 square degrees, number 51 of 88 by size. Its brightest star is Arneb, a yellow-white supergiant, magnitude 2.6. It is best seen in the evening in January. Over London it rises and sets and is well placed in its season. Its neighbours in the sky: Canis Major, Caelum, Columba, Eridanus, Monoceros, Orion.

Area: 290 square degrees, 51 of 88 · Neighbours: Canis Major, Caelum, Columba, Eridanus, Monoceros, Orion · Updated 10 October 2026

How to find Lepus

1
When to look
The best time is in January in the evening: in the south, around 21:56.
2
Use the neighbours
Find it from the neighbouring constellations: Canis Major, Caelum, Columba, Eridanus.
3
Brightest stars
The brightest stars of the figure: Arneb (2.6ᵐ), Nihal (2.8ᵐ), Ping (3.2ᵐ).

When it is visible over London

Month	Where and when	Conditions
January	in the south, around 21:56	around midnight
February	in the south, around 19:44	in the evening
March	in the south, around 19:17	low, needs an open horizon
April — august	—	not visible, behind the Sun
September	in the southeast, around 05:13	low, needs an open horizon
October	in the south, around 04:49	before dawn
November — december	in the south, around 01:58	around midnight

Stars of the constellation

Star	What it is	Magnitude
Arneb · α Lep	yellow-white supergiant	2.6ᵐ
Nihal · β Lep	yellow bright giant	2.8ᵐ
Ping · ε Lep	orange giant	3.2ᵐ
Bade · μ Lep	blue-white giant	3.3ᵐ
Darlugal · ζ Lep	white main-sequence star	3.5ᵐ
γ Lep	yellow-white main-sequence star	3.6ᵐ
η Lep	yellow-white giant	3.7ᵐ
δ Lep	orange giant	3.8ᵐ