Spring Triangle

The Spring Triangle is an asterism, a star pattern that is not one of the 88 official constellations, made of three stars in Boötes, Virgo and Leo. Its brightest star is Arcturus (magnitude −0.04), and it is best seen in the evening in May.

Free to use with credit: Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), CC BY 4.0 · More

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<a href="https://constellationmap.org/asterisms/spring-triangle/"><img src="https://constellationmap.org/img/asterisms/spring-triangle-star-map.png" alt="Spring Triangle star map: the three stars Arcturus, Spica and Denebola connected by lines and labeled, with the surrounding constellations" width="800" height="800" loading="lazy"></a>
<br><small><a href="https://constellationmap.org/asterisms/spring-triangle/">Spring Triangle</a> · Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a></small>

How to use it

Find Arcturus by following the arc of the Big Dipper's handle ("arc to Arcturus"), then speed on to Spica.

How to find the Spring Triangle

From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) it is highest in the south, about 58° above the horizon, in May evenings. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it reaches about 47° in the north.

Stars of the Spring Triangle

Star	Designation	Magnitude	Distance	Constellation
Arcturus	α Boötis	−0.04	37 ly	Boötes
Spica	α Virginis	0.98	303 ly	Virgo
Denebola	β Leonis	2.14	36 ly	Leo

Questions about the Spring Triangle

Is the Spring Triangle a constellation?

No. The Spring Triangle is an asterism: its stars belong to Boötes, Virgo and Leo, three of the 88 constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union.

What is the brightest star of the Spring Triangle?

Arcturus, with an apparent magnitude of −0.04, about 37 light-years away.

When can I see the Spring Triangle?

It is highest in the evening sky in May.