|  | | Algeiba
by Gary
| What's it called?
Algeiba is scientifically known as Gamma Leonis.Quick Facts
Algeiba's companion star takes 600 to 700 years to complete one orbit. |
What's it look like?
Algeiba is one of Gary's favorite double stars. Both stars are a beautiful golden yellow color, and are very bright, giving the impression that they actually are "burning". The stars are very close together, but on nights of decent seeing, they are easily separated.
What is it?
Gamma Leonis is a relatively nearby star, only 90 light years away from Earth. While Algeiba's companion star has a color similar to our own Sun's, Algeiba itself is decidely orange. Both stars are giants -- Algeiba is 90 times brighter than our Sun, and it's companion is 30 times brighter.. For more information, check out the Dome.
Where is it?
Algeiba is the brightest star in the Sickle of Leo. If you haven't guessed by now, it's in the contellation Leo. Gary finds it easiest to find Algeiba from downtown by considering it to be the upper-right star in the trapezoid defined by the stars Algeiba, Zozca, Denebola, and Regulus.
In the charts below, Algeiba is identified by the Greek character Gamma, which looks like the letter "y" -- Algeiba is labeled "y1-41". The last finder chart muddles the name because it is showing Algeiba and it's companion star so close together.
Algeiba's coordinates are RA 10:19:58.30, Dec 19:50:30.0
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| | Algeiba, a double star
H3945, a double star
M31, The Andromeda Galaxy
M42, The Orion Nebula
Mercury
Mizar, a double star
The Moon
Xi Bootis, a double star
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