Star profile

Xi Leonis

3D likeness based on its real data · class K · ~4,200 K

What is Xi Leonis

Xi Leonis is a solitary orange K0 giant, eleven times the Sun's radius and around 57 times its luminosity, 216 light-years away within Leo. It is a suspected variable with very low-amplitude oscillations, almost imperceptible, and shows high proper motion as it drifts away from us at nearly 36 km/s. It glows quietly among the Lion's paws, far from the heart of Regulus.

Where it is and when to see it

Xi Leonis lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is February, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 50° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 61° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 45° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 79° S.

It ranks no. 31 in brightness among the 80 stars of Leo in our catalogue. To find it, start from Regulus, the brightest: it lies about 9° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 220 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Xi Leonis

Constellation: Leo
Apparent magnitude: 4.99
Distance: 215.6 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 142.986° · Dec 11.300°
Catalogue: HIP 46771 · HD 82395

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Other stars in Leo

Leo has 80 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 80 stars in Leo