Use 55 Xi Serpens for Leap+2 and Leap+3 years in the 2000 era. 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: 55 Xi SER
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: Dec 16
Magnitude: 3.5
Spectrum/Star type: Light yellow giant
Distance in Light Years: 105
Diameter compared to Sun: 2
Luminosity compared to Sun: 15
Date best observed: Jul 31
Additional information: A Zodiac star in the Tail of the Serpent! The Chinese call it Nan Hae, “Southern Sea”. It is a double star. Serpens is the only constellation divided into two parts-Head and Tail. It is separated by Ophiuchus.

Name: Messier 6, SCO
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: Dec 16
Magnitude: 4.2, integrated magnitude for the cluster
Spectrum/Star type: Mostly Blue stars, younger than the Pleiades.
Distance in Light Years: 1500
Date best observed: Jul 31
Additional information: A cluster of stars, number 6 in Messier’s Catalog of objects he would not confuse with a comet. Robert Burnham Jr. in his wonderful catalog described it as a “butterfly with open wings”, The Butterfly Cluster.