The Little King

If you attempted to see the lineup described in the previous post, you saw the star Regulus between Saturn and Mars. What made this lineup possible is that Regulus lies near the ecliptic, the path followed by the sun. The moon and the planets also closely follow this path.

Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo. The brightest star in a constellation is usually designated alpha. Hence, Regulus is also known as Alpha Leonis. In ancient times, Regulus was known as Cor Leonis, which means "heart of the Lion." The more modern name Regulus was given by Copernicus. It is Latin for "little king."

Through a telescope, Regulus appears as two stars. Though difficult, it is possible to see both stars through binoculars. The dimmer of the two is actually a double star itself. You can see all three stars through a large telescope.

One unusual thing about Regulus is that it spins very rapidly. As a result, it is 32% wider at the equator than at the poles. Astronomers think that a previously unknown star is causing the rapid spinning. You can read more about Regulus's secret companion here.

References:
Wikipedia on Regulus
S&T Regulus's Secret Companion