Spring Triangle
The Spring Triangle is an astronomical asterism involving an imaginary triangle drawn upon the celestial sphere, with its defining vertices at Arcturus, Spica, and Regulus. This triangle connects the constellations of Boötes, Virgo, and Leo. It is visible rising in the south eastern sky of the northern hemisphere between March and May.
George Lovi of Sky & Telescope magazine had a slightly different Spring triangle, including the tail of Leo, Denebola, instead of Regulus. Denebola is dimmer, but the triangle is more nearly equilateral.[1]
These stars form parts of a larger Spring asterism called the Great Diamond together with Cor Caroli.
The stars of the Spring Triangle
| Constellation | Name | Apparent magnitude | Luminosity (L☉) |
Spectral type | Distance (light years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boötes | Arcturus | −0.04 | 176 | K1.5 III | 36.7 |
| Virgo | Spica | 1.04 | 12100 | B1 III-IV | 260 |
| Leo | Regulus | 1.35 | 288 | B7 IV | 79.3 |
| Denebola | 2.11 | 15 | A3 V | 35.9 |
See also
External links
- Lions in the Sky and other Spring Treasures
- The Spring Triangle Shows Denebola instead of Regulus in the spring triangle
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