Star profile

Iota Leonis

3D likeness based on its real data · class F · ~6,500 K

What is Iota Leonis

Iota Leonis is a quadruple system seventy-seven light-years away, dominated by two yellow-white stars locked in a highly eccentric dance. Its two principal components are slowly drifting apart until the year 2060, then will swing back together a century later in a gravitational choreography that has been tracked since 1835. It lies in the hindquarters of Leo, far from the burning heart of Regulus.

Where it is and when to see it

Iota 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 March, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 49° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 60° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 46° above the horizon.

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

It ranks no. 12 in brightness among the 80 stars of Leo in our catalogue. To find it, start from Regulus, the brightest: it lies about 19° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 77 years ago.

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A public signature from a real person. The chosen name is a symbolic denomination within Stelvia, with no official standing or IAU recognition: the sky is not for sale and belongs to no one.

Astronomical data for Iota Leonis

Constellation: Leo
Apparent magnitude: 4.00
Distance: 77.2 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 170.981° · Dec 10.530°
Catalogue: HIP 55642 · HD 99028

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