Leo I (galaxy)

Leo I is a small, faint galaxy located about 820,000 light-years from Earth. It is part of the Local Group, which includes the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies. Despite its size, Leo I is interesting because it contains many old stars and shows signs of past interactions with larger galaxies. It is classified as a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, meaning it has a smooth, rounded shape and little gas or new star formation. Studying Leo I helps astronomers understand galaxy formation, evolution, and the dynamic history of our cosmic neighborhood.