With your eyes alone, you will see only about five stars in the cluster, but even small binoculars will reveal several more. However, the constellation is also home to the Coma Berenices Star Cluster, which is highlighted on our map. Like Leo Minor, Coma Berenices consists of just three main stars. When he did, Berenice lopped off her golden locks, and astronomers of the time declared that they would be forever preserved in the night sky. It seems Berenice pledged to cut her long, flowing hair if her husband, King Ptolemy III, returned safely from battle. Moving to the east (leftward), we find Coma Berenices, Berenice’s Hair, named for Queen Berenice of ancient Egypt. You’ll have to make good use of your imagination because only three of Leo Minor’s stars are easily visible, arranged in a much-flattened triangle. Just above Leo lies the Smaller Lion, Leo Minor.

With Leo clearly in view, we can now make our way to the first few Minor Leaguers.

Once you’ve spotted the Sickle, you should have little trouble tracing out the rest of Leo, culminating with bright Denebola, whose name comes from an Arabic phrase meaning “tail of the lion.” The Smaller Lion and Berenice’s Hair The most distinctive part of Leo is the Sickle asterism, a pattern of six stars anchored by Regulus, the 21st brightest star in the night sky. When you look to the south on April evenings, mighty Leo, the Lion, dominates the scene.

November 2002 starfall calendar