Star profile

Algieba

Gamma 1 Leonis · Leo

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

What is Algieba

Algieba marks the mane of the celestial lion, an orange giant blazing 130 light-years away. Its name comes from the Arabic «al-jabha», 'the forehead', though medieval translators placed it on the mane by mistake — and there it has stayed. Through a small telescope it reveals itself as a striking system: two golden suns locked in a slow waltz no naked eye can untangle.

Where it is and when to see it

Algieba 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 58° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 69° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 36° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 70° S.

It ranks no. 2 in brightness among the 80 stars of Leo in our catalogue. To find it, start from Regulus, the brightest: it lies about 8° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 130 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Algieba

Constellation: Leo
Apparent magnitude: 2.01
Distance: 130.1 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 154.993° · Dec 19.841°
Catalogue: HIP 50583 · HD 89484

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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