What it looks like
Leo Minor is a small, faint northern constellation created by Johannes Hevelius in 1687 from stars that had previously been part of Leo. It sits just above the back of the larger lion, between Leo and Ursa Major, and its brightest stars only reach magnitude 3.8. Despite its modest appearance, it contains several fine galaxies accessible to amateur telescopes.
Brightest stars
Leo Minor has no bright stars; its brightest, Praecipua, sits near magnitude 3.8.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Praecipua (46 Leonis Minoris) | +3.83 | 98 ly | — |
| Beta Leonis Minoris | +4.20 | 146 ly | — |
| 21 Leonis Minoris | +4.49 | 91 ly | — |
| 10 Leonis Minoris | +4.55 | 290 ly | — |
Mythology and history
Leo Minor has no ancient mythology. It was created by Hevelius in 1687 from stars that had previously belonged to Leo, and named as the smaller lion.
The smaller lion
Leo Minor was introduced by Johannes Hevelius in 1687, using stars that had earlier been described by Tycho Brahe but never formally assigned to a constellation. Hevelius gave it the name Leo Minor — the smaller lion — placing it above the back of Leo, and it remains one of his few constellations to be universally accepted. Because it has no ancient tradition and only faint stars, it has never been given a classical myth; its lion is simply a companion to its more famous neighbour.
How to find it
Look just above Leo on spring evenings, between the Sickle and the Great Bear.
- Find Regulus and the Sickle in Leo, then look north.
- Very faint stars — use a chart or planetarium app.
- Best on spring evenings from the northern hemisphere.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- LMi
- Genitive
- Leonis Minoris
- Meaning
- The Smaller Lion
- Brightest star
- Praecipua
- Main stars
- 3
- Area rank
- 64th
- Best visible
- April
- Declination
- +35°
- Meteor showers
- Leo Minorids
- Neighbours
- Ursa Major, Lynx, Cancer, Leo
Deep-sky objects
Leo Minor is rich in faint galaxies, including the Leo I Group members NGC 3003 and NGC 3344, plus the interacting pair NGC 3395 and NGC 3396. The constellation also contains the quasar PG 1116+215, used as a background light source in studies of intergalactic gas.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Leo Minor look like?
Leo Minor is a small northern constellation known as the Smaller Lion, introduced by Hevelius in 1687 and lying just above the back of Leo.
What is the brightest star in Leo Minor?
The brightest star in Leo Minor is Praecipua, shining at around magnitude 3.83.
When is Leo Minor best visible?
Leo Minor is best seen from northern hemisphere during April.
What is the story behind Leo Minor?
Leo Minor has no ancient mythology. It was created by Hevelius in 1687 from stars that had previously belonged to Leo, and named as the smaller lion.
Which constellations are near Leo Minor?
Leo Minor borders Ursa Major, Lynx, Cancer and Leo.
Leo
Ursa Major