Trickier to spot the Sickle
Published on 31 May 2010 at 00:00.
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Filed under Constellation,Mars.
Monday 31st May 2010 @ 23:00 / 11pm
Click here for enlarge image.
Visible from March through June, Leo (The Lion) is the dominant constellation of the northern spring sky. It’s easy to find.
Just look for the sickle-shaped group of stars high in the southern sky after sunset. The sickle spans about 12 degrees… just a little wider than your fist at arms length.
The west-facing sickle, which makes up the head and mane of the lion, consists of the bright stars epsilon Leonis, Rasalhas, Adhafera, Algieba, eta Leonis, and, at the bottom, the icy-white star Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo (The Lion). About 15 degrees east, look for the little triangle of stars Zosma, Chertan, and Denebola that make up the haunches and tail.
See a map of Leo (The Lion), showing the position of Mars on Saturday 22 May 2010, along with galaxies M65, M66, NGC 3628 and NGC 2903.
