Leo Minor

noun

astronomy

: a small northern constellation that is visible between the constellations of Leo and Ursa Major and that is represented by the figure of a lion cub

With the addition of Leo Minor, Hevelius created a pride of celestial lions, and he also found room for another big cat in the stars. The area to the north and west of the two sky lions was also free of constellations, and Hevelius linked those stars together as Lynx.

—E. C. Krupp, Sky and Telescope, February 1995

Word History

First Known Use

1715, in the meaning defined above

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