Regulus facts for kids
Regulus, also known as Alpha Leonis, is the brightest star you can see in the Leo constellation. Imagine a giant blue star, much bigger than our Sun! Regulus is about 3.5 times larger than the Sun and shines brightly in the night sky. It's like the heart of the lion in the Leo constellation.
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What is Regulus?
Regulus is a special type of star called a blue main sequence star. This means it's very hot and bright, and it's still in the main part of its life, just like our Sun. But Regulus is much more powerful!
How Far Away is Regulus?
Regulus is quite far from Earth. It's about 79 light-years away. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year, which is a super long way! So, when you look at Regulus, you're seeing light that left the star 79 years ago.
Regulus: A Multiple Star System
Did you know that Regulus isn't just one star? It's actually a multiple star system, which means it's made up of several stars orbiting each other.
- The main star, Regulus A, is the big, bright blue one we usually talk about.
- It has a companion star, Regulus B, which is much smaller and dimmer.
- There are also two other stars, Regulus C and Regulus D, that are even further away from the main pair.
These stars are all connected by gravity, dancing around each other in space.
The Fast Spin of Regulus A
Regulus A is a very fast spinner! It rotates so quickly that it's actually flattened at its poles and bulging at its equator, like a squashed ball. This fast spin makes it look a bit different from other stars.
Finding Regulus in the Sky
You can easily find Regulus by looking for the Leo constellation. Leo looks a bit like a lion, and Regulus is usually seen as the bright star at the bottom of the "sickle" shape, which forms the lion's head and mane. It's a great star to spot during spring evenings in the Northern Hemisphere.
Images for kids
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Regulus through Celestron CGEM DX 1100 @ F6.3, Canon T3i, Televue 4X Powermate, ISO 800, 30 sec exposure
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Regulus as viewed through a 110mm refractor in full daylight.
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Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation of Leo (right tip, below is bright Jupiter in 2004).
See also
In Spanish: Regulus para niños
