Star map centered on the constellations visible in spring in the northern hemisphere, highlighting Leo, Virgo, and Boötes.
Image source: astronoo.com — AI-generated image, public domain.
This article presents the spring constellations of the northern hemisphere, dominated by zodiacal figures and galaxies. The flagship constellations are Leo (with Regulus and the Leo Triplet of galaxies M65/M66), Virgo (with Spica and the galaxy cluster containing M87), Ursa Major (circumpolar, with galaxies M81/M82), and Boötes (with Arcturus, the brightest star in the northern sky). The article mentions deep-sky objects: the Leo Triplet, the Virgo Cluster (over 1,300 galaxies), the globular cluster M3 (Canes Venatici, locatable from Boötes), the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), and the double star Algieba. Events in 2026 are noted (spring equinox, Lyrids, Eta Aquarids).
The spring northern sky is dominated by zodiacal constellations and galaxies accessible with small instruments. The emblematic figure is Leo (Leo), recognizable by its inverted "question mark" (the "Sickle") formed by Regulus (α Leo, magnitude 1.36) and other stars. It hosts the Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC 3628), a group of interacting galaxies about 35 million light-years away. Virgo (Virgo) is a vast constellation containing the Virgo Cluster (between 1,300 and 2,000 galaxies according to catalogs), including the famous M87 (a giant elliptical galaxy hosting a supermassive black hole whose shadow was first imaged by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2019). Its main star is Spica (α Vir, magnitude 0.98), a spectroscopic binary. Ursa Major, circumpolar, points toward Arcturus (α Boo, magnitude -0.05), the brightest star in the northern sky, located in Boötes. By following the same direction from Arcturus, one reaches the globular cluster M3, located in the neighboring constellation Canes Venatici and containing about 500,000 stars. Spring is also the season to observe the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) in Canes Venatici and the double star Algieba (γ Leo). Key events mark the season: the spring equinox (March 20, 2026), the Lyrids meteor shower (peak on the night of April 22), and the Eta Aquarids (peak around May 6).
Spring reveals a sky dominated by zodiacal figures and galactic objects accessible with small instruments. Among the most emblematic constellations:
To locate these constellations, follow these key steps:
| Constellation | Brightest Star | Mag max | Notable Deep-Sky Object | Visibility (Northern Hemisphere) | Associated Mythology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leo (Leo) | Regulus (α Leo) | 1.36 | Leo Triplet (M65/M66) | February to May | Nemean Lion (Hercules' myth) |
| Virgo (Virgo) | Spica (α Vir) | 0.98 | Virgo Cluster (M87) | March to July | Demeter/Astraea |
| Boötes (Boötes) | Arcturus (α Boo) | -0.05 | M3 (Neighboring Canes Venatici) | April to September | Arcas (son of Callisto) |
| Ursa Major (Ursa Major) | Alioth (ε UMa) | 1.76 | M81/M82 (galaxies) | Circumpolar > 40°N | Callisto (Greek myth) |
| Date | Event | Constellation Involved | Visibility (France) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2026 | Spring Equinox | Sun in Pisces | Day = Night (12h), at 3:45 PM Paris time |
| April 22, 2026 | Meteor Shower (Lyrids) | Radiant in Lyra | ~18 meteors/h, peak at 7:40 PM UTC (9:40 PM in France) |
| May 6, 2026 | Meteor Shower (Eta Aquarids) | Radiant in Aquarius | Peak at dawn, best observation after midnight |
| May 22, 2026 | Moon-Regulus Conjunction | Leo | Visible to the naked eye in the evening |
Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation (IMCCE) for the equinox · International Meteor Organization for the Lyrids and Eta Aquarids · Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results I-VI, Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2019, for the M87* black hole imaging · Wikipedia EN, « Virgo Cluster », « Leo Triplet », « M3 (globular cluster) », « Gamma Leonis » · Messier Database of Paris Observatory (messier.obspm.fr).
The main spring constellations are:
• Leo (Leo): with Regulus and the Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC 3628).
• Virgo (Virgo): with Spica and the Virgo Cluster (between 1,300 and 2,000 galaxies).
• Ursa Major (Ursa Major): circumpolar, with galaxies M81 and M82.
• Boötes (Boötes): with Arcturus, the brightest star in the northern sky.
• Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair): containing a rich cluster of galaxies.
• Canes Venatici (Hunting Dogs): with the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) and the globular cluster M3.
• Crater (Cup), Corvus (Raven), and Sextans (Sextant): small constellations associated with Leo and Virgo.
To locate spring constellations:
• Start with Ursa Major, high in the northeastern sky in early evening. Follow the curve of the "dipper handle" to reach Arcturus (in Boötes): this is the "Arc to Arcturus" rule.
• From Arcturus, continue the same curve to reach Spica (in Virgo).
• To find Leo, use the "guard" stars of Ursa Major (Dubhe and Merak). Draw a line southward to reach Regulus (α Leonis), the main star of Leo.
• Coma Berenices is located between Leo and Boötes, and Canes Venatici (home to M3 and M51) are located below Ursa Major's handle, just south of Arcturus.
Spring offers many spectacular deep-sky objects:
• The Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC 3628): a group of interacting galaxies in Leo, visible with a 150 mm telescope.
• The Virgo Cluster: a cluster of galaxies containing M87 (a giant elliptical galaxy with a supermassive black hole whose shadow was imaged by the EHT in 2019), M84, M86, and many others.
• The globular cluster M3: in Canes Venatici, near Boötes, containing about 500,000 stars.
• The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51): in Canes Venatici, a spiral galaxy famous for its well-defined arms.
• Galaxies M81 and M82: in Ursa Major, a pair of spiral and irregular galaxies.
• The double star Algieba (γ Leo): in Leo, a binary system of two orange giants.
The Virgo Cluster is a cluster of galaxies located between 55 and 65 million light-years from Earth according to the latest measurements (cepheids, Hubble Space Telescope), and containing between 1,300 and 2,000 galaxies. It is the closest galaxy cluster to the Local Group (to which the Milky Way belongs). It contains famous galaxies such as M87 (a giant elliptical galaxy with a supermassive black hole whose shadow was imaged by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2019), M84, and M86. Its study is crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies, as well as the distribution of dark matter.
Spring constellations are rich in Greek mythology:
• Leo: associated with the Nemean Lion, killed by Hercules during his twelve labors.
• Virgo: identified with Demeter (goddess of agriculture) or Astraea (goddess of justice), symbolizing fertility and spring rebirth.
• Ursa Major: represents Callisto, transformed into a bear by Hera, then placed in the sky by Zeus.
• Boötes: identified with Arcas, Callisto's son, guardian of Ursa Major.
• Coma Berenices: represents the hair of Queen Berenice II of Egypt, offered to the gods for her husband's safe return from war.
Spring 2026 offers several notable events:
• Spring Equinox (March 20, 2026, 3:45 PM Paris time): the Sun enters Pisces, day = night (12h).
• Lyrids Meteor Shower (peak on the night of April 22, 2026): ~18 meteors/hour, peak at 7:40 PM UTC (9:40 PM French time), radiant in Lyra.
• Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower (peak around May 6, 2026): radiant in Aquarius, best observation before dawn.
• Moon-Regulus Conjunction (May 22, 2026): visible to the naked eye in the evening.
To optimize your spring observations:
• Use a 200 mm telescope to reveal the spiral arms of M66 or details of M87. 10x50 binoculars are sufficient for M3 or the Leo Triplet.
• Favor New Moon nights (e.g., April 17, 2026) to avoid natural light pollution.
• Observe around midnight (local time), when constellations are at the meridian (highest point).
• Use interactive star maps like Stellarium or WikiSky to plan your observations.
• For astrophotography of galaxies (low surface brightness), use long exposures (ISO 1600, 30s-2min) with equatorial tracking.
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