LEO (THE

See also:

• LION
• LION (Lat, leo, leonis; Gr. Mew)

LION)  , in astronomy, the fifth sign of the zodiac (q.v.), denoted by the symbol Sl . It is also a constellation, mentioned by Eudoxus (4th century B.C.) and Aratus (3rd century B.C.) . According to Greek mythology this constellation is the Nemean lion, which, after being killed by Hercules, was raised to the heavens by Jupiter in honour of Hercules . A part of Ptolemy's Leo is now known as Coma Berenices (q.v.). a Leonis, also known as Cor Leonis or the Lion's Heart, Regulus, Basilicus, &c., is a very bright star of magnitude 1 723, and parallax o•02", and proper motion 0.27" per annum. y Leonis is a very fine orange-yellow binary star, of magnitudes 2 and 4, and period 400 years. c Leonis is a binary, composed of a 4th magnitude pale yellow star, and a 7th magnitude blue star . The LEONIDS are a meteoric swarm, appearing in November and radiating from this constellation (see METEOR) .