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> Constellation of Leo

Constellation of Leo

author: A.Fujii/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-cst48-00012

Image Size 300 DPI: 51 * 40 cm

Leo (the Lion) is the creature with the impenetrable skin, reputedly slain by Hercules as the first of his 12 labours, and is one of the few constellations to look anything like the object it is supposed to represent, in this case a crouching Lion. The constellation is of great antiquity, and Pliny wrote that the ancient Egyptians worshiped these stars, and that the lion also represented in the Sphinx. The constellation is situated between Virgo and Cancer and is the 12th largest, measuring 947 degrees. It contains many bright and interesting stars and numerous galaxies, five bright enough to be catalogued by Messier. The ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun) passes through the constellation and the Sun is there from mid-August to mid-September. Naturally therefore, Leo is best placed for night time observation at the opposite end of the year, during the early evening in April.

Keywords for this photo:

ASTRONOMY - CONSTELLATION - DENEBOLA - LEO - LINE - MAP - POSTER - REGULUS - STAR - ZODIAC -