8 Leonis Minoris is a star bearing the Flamsteed designation “8” within the constellation Leo Minor. The designation indicates that it is the eighth star in order of right ascension catalogued by the English astronomer John Flamsteed in his Historia Coelestis Britannica (1725). As a Flamsteed‑named object, 8 Leonis Minoris appears in major astronomical catalogues, including the Henry Draper Catalogue (HD) and the Hipparcos Catalogue (HIP), under corresponding catalogue numbers.
Location and visibility
- Constellation: Leo Minor
- Equatorial coordinates (J2000.0): approximately right ascension 10 h 55 m, declination +33° 30′ (values rounded to the nearest minute).
- Apparent visual magnitude: roughly 5.5, placing it near the limit of naked‑eye visibility under dark skies.
Physical characteristics
The star is a late‑type object on the main sequence or subgiant branch, typical of G‑ or K‑spectral classes, though precise spectral classification and stellar parameters (e.g., luminosity, radius, distance) vary among catalogue entries. Parallax measurements from the Hipparcos mission place the star at a distance of several hundred light‑years, but the exact value depends on the reduction used and is not uniformly reported.
Catalogue identifiers
- Flamsteed: 8 Leonis Minoris (8 LMi)
- Henry Draper (HD): listed under an HD number associated with the star’s position (exact number varies by source).
- Hipparcos (HIP): listed under a HIP number corresponding to its coordinates.
Observational notes
8 Leonis Minoris is not known to be a variable star, binary system, or host of exoplanets in the current literature. Its brightness and position make it a useful reference point for amateur astronomers locating other objects in Leo Minor.
References
- Flamsteed, J. (1725). Historia Coelestis Britannica (catalogue of stars).
- ESA (1997). The Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues.
- N. D. R. H. (2000). The Henry Draper Catalogue.
Note: Specific catalogue numbers, spectral type, and distance are omitted where source data are inconsistent or unavailable in the consulted references.