Leo Minor

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/leo-minor

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the formal definition?Cataloged by Johannes Hevelius in 1687
2. What is the brightest star magnitude?Praecipua (31 Leonis Minoris) is approximately magnitude 4.2
3. Why is Leo Minor called "Lesser Lion"?It was made to be a companion to the larger constellation Leo, the Lion. The name reflects that relationship.
4. How can I see Leo Minor in the sky?You can look for it in spring evenings in the Northern Hemisphere, next to Ursa Major and Leo. Because its stars are faint, binoculars or a small telescope help you see them.

Asterism: A prominent pattern or group of stars that is not one of the 88 official constellations.
Magnitude: A measure of the brightness of a celestial object, with lower numbers indicating greater brightness.
Circumpolar: A celestial body that is always above the horizon when viewed from a particular latitude.