December 24

December 24 Leap Leap+1 Leap+2 Leap+3
1950 13Mu SGR 13Mu SGR 13Mu SGR
M24 SGR
2000 13Mu SGR 13Mu SGR HR 6766 SGR

Use 13 Mu for Leap+3 years in the 1950 era. Use 13 Mu or HR 6766 for Leap+2 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: HR 6766 SGR aka HIP 89678 formerly BS 6766
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: Dec 23
Magnitude: 4.6, variable
Spectrum/Star type: Orange Giant
Distance in Light Years: 350
Diameter compared to Sun: ~15x
Luminosity compared to Sun: ~60x
Date best observed: Aug 7
Additional information: This star has a peculiar spectrum showing cyanide(CN).

Name: 13Mu SGR Polis
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: Dec 24
Magnitude: 3.8, variable
Spectrum/Star type: Blue Giant
Distance in Light Years: more than 3900-one of most distant zodiac stars.
Diameter compared to Sun: 115
Luminosity compared to Sun: >70,000
Date best observed: Aug 9
Additional information: From the Copts of northeast Africa: “the Foal”. One of most distant zodiac stars, it is an eclipsing spectroscopic binary with 4 other companions. Mu is at the upper tip of the ancient Bow of the Archer and at the lower tip lies the brighter Eta SGR, 3.1 magnitude, outside of the zodiac.

Name: Messier 24, SGR
B’DAY: Dec 25 & 26
MAG: 4.5 integrated, S.J. O’Meara has 2.5!
LYR: 9400
CULM: Aug 10 & 11
MISC: “The Small Sagittarius Star Cloud”, part of the Milky Way. Not one star, but millions seen like a window in space. It is 2 degrees long & 1 degree wide. (The moon is only half a degree wide.) Number 24 in Messier’s Catalog of objects he would not confuse with a comet.

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