Starwatch: Leo the lion dominates the northern hemisphere | Astronomy

Spring evenings in the northern hemisphere are dominated by the unmistakable silhouette of Leo, one of the few constellations that resembles the creature it represents, the lion.

Leo is most easily identified by its distinctive “upside-down” question mark, called by astronomers the “sickle” asterism and representing the lion’s head.

The chart shows the view high in the southern sky from London on April 27 at 10:00 p.m. BST, although the view is essentially the same all week.

Recognized since Antiquity, the constellation has long been associated with the figure of a lion. Inscribed in Western written culture as one of the 48 original constellations listed by Ptolemy in the 2nd century, it has a rich mythological tradition.

In Mesopotamia it was associated with the lion ridden by the goddess Ishtar, while the ancient Egyptians linked it to the annual flood of the Nile, which occurred when the sun passed through that region of the sky. In Greek mythology, Leo represents the fearsome beast killed by Heracles (Hercules) as the first of his 12 labors.

The brightest star in the constellation is Regulus, a bright blue-white star that lies almost exactly on the ecliptic, which is the path taken by the sun, moon, and planets across the sky.

From the southern hemisphere, Leo is clearly visible in the northern sky.