December 13

December 13 Leap Leap+1 Leap+2 Leap+3
1950 53Nu SER
40 Xi OPH
44b OPH 44b OPH 42Theta OPH 42Theta OPH
45d OPH
2000 53Nu SER 53Nu SER
40 Xi OPH 40 Xi OPH 40 Xi OPH
44b OPH 42Theta OPH 42Theta OPH 42Theta OPH

In some cases you have a choice of stars for this date. Remember that a brighter star has a smaller magnitude number, if that is your choice.

Name: 53Nu SER
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: Dec 12
Magnitude: 4.3
Spectrum/Star type: White, a binary system.
Distance in Light Years: ~200
Diameter compared to Sun: 3
Luminosity compared to Sun: ~60
Date best observed: Jul 26
Additional information: In the Serpent’s Tail, outside of the zodiac. Serpens is the only constellation divided into two parts-Head and Tail. It is separated by Ophiuchus.

Name: 40 Xi OPH
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: Dec 12, Zodiac
Magnitude: 4.4
Spectrum/Star type: Light yellow
Distance in Light Years: 57
Diameter compared to Sun: 1+
Luminosity compared to Sun: 4
Date best observed: Jul 26
Additional information: Persians, Egyptians, & Ethiopians of NE Africa called Xi, Theta, & Eta “The Magician”. Nearby, to the east is the site of the last Milky Way Supernova called “Kepler’s Star”, seen in 1604. Xi is a binary system.

Name: 42Theta OPH
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: Dec 12
Magnitude: 3.3Var
Spectrum/Star type: Blue
Distance in Light Years: 560
Diameter compared to Sun: 7
Luminosity compared to Sun: 11,500 in ultraviolet light
Date best observed: Jul 27
Additional information: Nearby, the “S” dark nebula to the north,& the “Pipe” dark nebula a few degress south. Persians, Egyptians, & Ethiopians called it with Eta and Xi, “the Magician”. There are 2 other stars here.

Name: 44b OPH
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: Dec 13
Magnitude: 4.2
Spectrum/Star type: White
Distance in Light Years: 84
Date best observed: Jul 28
Additional information: On the edge of The Pipe Nebula.

Name: 45d OPH
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: Dec 14
Magnitude: 4.3
Spectrum/Star type: Light yellow
Distance in Light Years: 110
Diameter compared to Sun: ~5x
Luminosity compared to Sun: ~25x
Date best observed: Jul 28
Additional information: Below this dim star lies the Scorpion with its tail & stinger. Those bright stars are significantly far south of the real zodiac.

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