Leo Minor
By Shawn Grant
Leo Minor is an unremarkable constellation consisting of four forth magnitude stars. It is located just north of the head of Leo. The constellation was added in the 1600’s to fill a void in the sky. Not very many amateurs explore this constellation but it has many bright and spectacular galaxies that deserve a good looking at. In this tour we are going to touch on the brighter and more interesting objects of Leo Minor.
We will start on the western side of Leo Minor with the 10.9 magnitude galaxy NGC 2859. It is located 38 minutes east of Alpha Lynx. It is round with a size of 4.5’ X 4’. It is fairly bright and brightens suddenly to a near stellar nucleus. This is a very nice spiral in a nice background of stars.
Next on the tour is NGC 3003. It is located just 2 degrees from the 6th magnitude star 13 Leo Minor. It is 12.3 magnitude and has a size of 5.7’ X 1.7. It is bright, large and very much extended. On a good night with a moderate sized telescope you can see some mottling in the galaxy.
30 minutes to the east of NGC 3003 lies the galaxy NGC 3021. It is 12.6 in magnitude and has a size of 1.5’ X .9’. It has a high surface brightness, small, tad extended with a much brighter center. This galaxy had a 13th magnitude supernova in 1995.
Now we go a little ways to the north to the galaxy NGC 3158. NGC 3158 is the brightest of a group 7 galaxies; NGC 3152, NGC 3160, NGC 3150, NGC 3159, NGC 3161 NGC 3163 and PGC 29818. Many of the galaxies are fairly faint in the 14th and 15th magnitude range. NGC 3158 isn’t that faint though; it has a magnitude of 11.9 and 2.3’ X 2’ in size. It is fairly bright, round with a brighter center. If you are using a larger telescope 16 inches plus be sure to examine the rest of the galaxies in the area.
Next is the galaxy NGC 3294. It is located just a degree north of the star 35 Leo Minor. NGC 3294 is 11.8 in magnitude and has a size of 3.5’ X 1.7’. It is fairly bright, large and has a gradually brighter middle. This galaxy has had quite a history of supernovas. In 1990 it had 16th magnitude supernova and in 1992 there was a 14th magnitude supernova.
3 degrees to the east is the galaxy NGC 3432. It is 11.3 magnitude and has a size of 6.9’ X 1.9’. The galaxy has a low surface brightness. It is large and elongated. It looks like a spindle. There are two stars to the south preceding edge. Some observers with larger telescopes have noted some knotting and a dust lane.
A degree to the west of 46 Leo Minor is the galaxy NGC 3381. It is 11.7 magnitude and has a size of 2’ X 1’. It has a low surface brightness and it has in irregular round in shape. It gradually brightens towards the middle.
One degree to the southwest is a group of galaxies NGC 3395, NGC 3396, NGC 3430, NGC 3424 and NGC 3413. NGC 3395 and NGC 3396 is an interesting pair of interacting galaxies. 
NGC 3396 is larger of the two with a size of 3.4’ X 1.3’ and has a magnitude of 12.1. NGC 3395 is the same magnitude but is smaller with a size of 1.6’ X 0.9’. It is a great site to see two galaxies interacting and sharing material. They are both elongated and together they look like a butterfly. NGC 3395 is more concentrated and has a soft nucleus. NGC 3396 has a brighter stellar core. Just to the east is the galaxy NGC 3430. It is 11.6 magnitude and has a size of 4.1’ X 2.2’. The galaxy is bright and fairly large. The core is brighter then the rest with a hint of a stellar nucleus. NGC 3424 is 12.4 in magnitude and has a size of 2.5’ X 0.8’. It is fairly faint with a brighter center. The galaxy is very elongated it looks like a streak. NGC 3413 is the faintest of the 5 with a magnitude of 12.5 and a size of 1.9 minutes.
Now move to the 6th magnitude star 44 Leo Minor. Just 17 minutes to the east is the galaxy NGC 3414. It is fairly bright with a magnitude of 11.2 and a size of 3.2’ X 2.7’. The galaxy is round in shape with a brighter stellar core that fades rapidly to a ghostly halo.
2.5 degrees east-northeast of the star 44 Leo Minor lays the galaxy NGC 3486. The galaxy is 11th magnitude with a size of 6.6’ X 4.7’. This is a loose spiral galaxy that has a much brighter core. With a larger telescope you can see some knots within the spiral arms. This is a great galaxy and while looking at it you will wonder why Leo Minor is neglected with wonders like this.
Move a degree to the south to the galaxy NGC 3504. It is 10.9 magnitude and has a size of 2.3’ X 2.3’. The galaxy is elongated with a much brighter core. It appears fainter then the given magnitude. Some observers with larger telescopes have noted a dust lane and others have seen some mottling.
1.5 degrees south of the 5.5 magnitude star 40 Leo Minor is a bright galaxy NGC 3344. It has a magnitude of 9.9 and is large with a size of 6.9’ X 6.4’. The galaxy is bright, larger and round. It is a face on spiral with a much larger core. In good skies observers can see some spiral structure. This galaxy is a marvelous sight.
Every now and then it is fun to explore little known constellations to see what there is. In this case you have many interesting and bright galaxies.
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