Praecipua — Star in Leo Minor
HIP 53229; 46 Leonis Minoris
About Praecipua
Description
Praecipua, 46 Leonis Minoris, is the brightest star in the faint constellation Leo Minor at magnitude 3.83. It is a K-type subgiant of spectral class K0+ III-IV lying 95 light-years away, with a mass of 1.7 Suns and a radius of about 8 Suns. Despite being the constellation's alpha star by brightness, 46 LMi received a Flamsteed number rather than a Greek letter due to Bayer's oversight when the constellation was drawn up.
Observing Tips
Praecipua is the only truly bright star in Leo Minor, a small triangular constellation wedged between Leo and Ursa Major. Find Leo Minor by looking for a small kite-shaped asterism north of Leo's main outline. Praecipua is the brightest point in that kite. Best observed February through May.
History
The name Praecipua is Latin for "chief" or "principal," reflecting the star's role as the brightest in its constellation. The name was formally adopted by the IAU in 2017. Leo Minor was invented by Johannes Hevelius in 1687, and Praecipua has been its principal star ever since.
Fun Facts
Praecipua's history is a celestial naming curiosity: when Francis Baily published his updated star catalog in the early 19th century, he accidentally skipped assigning Alpha to the brightest star in Leo Minor, giving only a Beta to the next brightest — a rare omission that leaves Leo Minor as one of the few constellations in the modern sky without an alpha. Praecipua remains Leo Minor's most prominent star and a reliable pointer toward the faint surrounding galaxies.
Observe
1Physical Properties
2Position & Identifiers
3How easy to spot?
| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Easy | Medium+ | Medium+ |
| 50 mm finder 50mm finder | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm telescope 150mm scope | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
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5Survey Image
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Explore
7
Size Comparison
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Compare Stars
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Spectral Classification
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Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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Stellar Lifecycle
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Blackbody Spectrum
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Stellar Absorption Spectrum
Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.
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Stellar Fusion
Discover
15Stellar Notes
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Light Travel Time Machine
17
Relativistic Travel
Nearby in the Sky
Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.
Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.
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