Leo Minor

The Little Lion

A small, faint constellation of a few stars between Leo and the Big Dipper.

Chart drawn as the sky looks when you face the constellation: north is up and east is to the left. Dot size shows brightness, and color hints at temperature. The connecting lines are one common stick figure; other traditions draw them differently.

Best season: Spring
Best months: March through May, high in the sky on spring evenings
Visibility: Visible from everywhere in the United States
Abbreviation: LMi

How to find it

Look above Leo's Sickle for a few faint stars in an otherwise empty patch between Leo and Ursa Major.

Brightest stars

46 Leonis Minoris (also called Praecipua, an orange giant)

What to look for

The faint stars of Leo Minor on a dark night.

Using it to find other things

Leo Minor lies between Leo and Ursa Major.

About this constellation

Leo Minor is a modest constellation, interesting mostly because it fills the gap between Leo and Ursa Major. There is little to see here beyond a few faint stars, but it is a good test of a dark sky.

Related guides

Visibility depends on your latitude, the date, and the time of night. The months above assume a typical evening from the contiguous United States, so use a planetarium app to confirm what is up tonight. Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter.

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