December 17

December 17 Leap Leap+1 Leap+2 Leap+3
1950 M6 SCO M6 SCO M6 SCO
56 Omicron SER 56 Omicron SER 56 Omicron SER 56 Omicron SER
2000 55 Xi SER 55 Xi SER
M6 SCO M6 SCO M6 SCO M6 SCO
56 Omicron SER 56 Omicron SER 56 Omicron SER

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.

Name: 56 Omicron SER
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: Dec 17
Magnitude: 4.3
Spectrum/Star type: White
Distance in Light Years: 170
Diameter compared to Sun: ~2x
Luminosity compared to Sun: 30x
Date best observed: Aug 1
Additional information: It is a double star, outside of the zodiac in the tail of the Serpent. Serpens is the only constellation divided into two parts-Head and Tail. It is separated by Ophiuchus.

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