Theta Leonis is Chort, meaning 'small rib'. Originally the name Chertan designated both delta and theta, and meant 'two small ribs'.

This bright (3.3) star has a number of spiral galaxies nearby, which we haven't named as they require a large telescope to appreciate: theta Leonis.

What we can appreciate here are two fine binaries: 88 and 90 Leonis.
      88 Leonis (Struve 1547) yellow and blue: 6.3, 9.1; 331º, 15.4".
      90 Leonis (Struve 1552) white and blue. AB: 6.3, 7.3; 208º, 3.5".
         AC: 6.3, 9.8; 235º, 62.9".

A slight sweep to the south brings in iota Leonis and several Messier objects.

Iota Leonis (Struve 1536) is a telescopic binary: 4.1, 6.7; 58º, 2.1".

For the two Messier objects here, M65 and M66, click on their image on the map for details.

Two binocular fields south brings us to sigma and tau Leonis.

Tau Leonis is a multiple star system with two visible components:
      AB: 5.1, 7.5; 181º, 89.4".
      AD: 5.1, 9.5; 92º, 762.0".

83 Leonis is in the same field (Struve 1540): 6.6, 7.5; 150º, 28.2".

Now it's up to beta Leonis, Denebola - The Lion's Tail. Back up to theta (north two fields) and then west one and a half binocular fields: beta.

Click on beta on the map to continue.