Leo Minor - The Little Lion

Leo Minor is a small, inconspicuous constellation under the hind feet of Ursa Major, the Great Bear. It lies just north of the sickle of Leo. For northern observers, Leo Minor is best viewed during the spring months.

History and Mythology

Leo Minor was created in the 17th century; being a modern constellation, there are few myths associated with it. The ancient Egyptians thought this part of the sky was sacred to the god Ptah. The ancient Chinese sometimes combined Leo Minor with Leo to form a large dragon or chariot.

Notable Objects

Leo Minor consists of an irregular line of faint stars stretching from east to west across the sky. Even the brightest star is only of 4th magnitude.

There are a number of faint galaxies in Leo Minor, the brightest of which are the 10th magnitude, face-on spirals NGC 3486 and NGC 3344. Slightly fainter are the 11th magnitude edge-on spirals NGC 3003 and NGC 3432. Viewing these galaxies requires a 12 inch or larger telescope.