Star profile

Nu Leonis

Hot blue star

3D likeness based on its real data · class B · ~15,000 K

What is Nu Leonis

Nu Leonis is a blue-white spectroscopic binary, a pairing so close it betrays itself only through the swing of its spectral lines. It shines with about 200 solar luminosities and is drifting away from the Sun at 14 km/s. It sits in Leo, not far from majestic Regulus, a quiet point in the mane of the king of the northern spring constellations.

Where it is and when to see it

Nu 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 51° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 62° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 44° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 78° S.

It ranks no. 36 in brightness among the 80 stars of Leo in our catalogue. To find it, start from Regulus, the brightest: it lies about 3° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 500 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Nu Leonis

Constellation: Leo
Apparent magnitude: 5.26
Distance: 499.5 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 149.556° · Dec 12.445°
Catalogue: HIP 48883 · HD 86360

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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