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While Lacerta has two Bayer stars (alpha and beta), Leo Minor has only
one; curiously it's Beta LMi. It isn't even
the brightest star of the constellation; 46 LMi has that honour
with a magnitude of 3.8.
The constellation has one binary of any interest, one Mira variable, and
a few galaxies, including a rare interacting pair of galaxies.
Beta Leo Minoris is an extremely close binary with an orbit of 39 years: PA 223º, separation 0.4".
NGC 3395 is one of two interacting galaxies, two small and bright
galaxies which seem to exist in some kind of symbiotic relationship. The
two are found 1.5 degrees SW of 46 LMi.
NGC 3396 is the other half of the interacting galaxies, with a
separation of 1.7'. It is slightly fainter (12.8) and slightly smaller.
You might also want to visit the Binocular Section.
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© Richard Dibon-Smith.