The star at the top of Leo's head has many aliases. Its proper name is Algenubi, from a longer Arabic name that means "the southern star of the lion's head." Most astronomers call it Epsilon Leonis. But like most stars, it has several dozen other designations.
Weekly Stargazing Tips
Provided by StarDate.org. Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii).
March 30: Algenubi
March 31: Close Black Hole
Gaia BH1 is the closest black hole yet discovered, just 1,560 light-years away. It is in Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer, which is high in the south at first light. Its outline looks like a giant coffee urn. BH1 is inside the urn.
April 1: Moon in Taurus
The planet Jupiter looks like a brilliant star well to the upper left of the Moon tonight. The brightest stars of Taurus, Aldebaran and Elnath, line up below and above Jupiter, respectively, while the Pleiades star cluster is close below the Moon.
April 2: Moon and Jupiter
The Moon's prominent companion tonight is the planet Jupiter. It looks like a brilliant star to the lower left of the Moon. Through binoculars, Jupiter's four big moons look like tiny stars near the giant planet.
April 3: Sirius
Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, slides across the southwest this evening. The star is in the south-southwest as darkness falls and sets by around midnight. It twinkles fiercely as it drops toward the horizon.
April 4: Moon and Gemini
The first-quarter Moon is gliding across the constellation Gemini tonight. Gemini's twin stars and the planet Mars form an arc above and to the upper left of the Moon at nightfall. Mars is the brightest member of the arc.
April 5: Moon and Mars
Mars stands close to the lower right of the Moon at nightfall. Dust on its surface gives the planet an orange tint. Pollux and Castor, the stars that represent the twins of Gemini, line up farther to the right of the Moon.