Star profile

Eta Leonis

Highly luminous star

3D likeness based on its real data · class A · ~8,500 K

What is Eta Leonis

η Leonis traces part of the Sickle, the backwards question mark that outlines the Lion's mane. Modest in appearance from 1,270 light-years away, it is in fact a white supergiant nearly 20,000 times more luminous than the Sun and a future supernova candidate. Since 1943 it has served as the spectral standard for class A0 Ib —a quiet anchor in the cartography of stars.

Where it is and when to see it

Eta 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 55° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 66° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 39° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 73° S.

It ranks no. 8 in brightness among the 80 stars of Leo in our catalogue. To find it, start from Regulus, the brightest: it lies about 5° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 1,300 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Eta Leonis

Constellation: Leo
Apparent magnitude: 3.48
Distance: 1269.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 151.833° · Dec 16.763°
Catalogue: HIP 49583 · HD 87737

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

Other stars in Leo

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

See all 80 stars in Leo