September 9

September 9 Leap Leap+1 Leap+2 Leap+3
1950 68Delta LEO 68Delta LEO
70Theta LEO 70Theta LEO
2000 68Delta LEO
70Theta LEO

Either star will work for the Leap +2 and +3 years, and for Leap +1 in the 2000 era. In a few cases you have a choice. Remember that a smaller magnitude number is a brighter star, if that is your preference.

Name: 68Delta LEO Zosma
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: September 9
Magnitude: 2.6
Spectrum/Star type: White
Distance in Light Years: 58
Diameter compared to Sun: 2
Luminosity compared to Sun: 25
Date best observed: Apr 24
Additional information: Greek:”Girdle”. A double star, outside of the Zodiac. It rotates 90x times faster than the sun. It has expended more than half of its life. Delta makes a fine right triangle with Beta and Theta in the Lion’s hindquarters and tail.
About 3 degrees north of Delta is the overlooked red giant, 72 LEO. More than 6000 light years away, it must be ~100x bigger and tens of 1000s of times more luminous than Delta and Our Sun! 4.6 mag. It is far from the Zodiac and would be a September 10 star.

Name: 70Theta LEO Chort
Birthday from Jack’s initial research: September 10
Magnitude: 3.3
Spectrum/Star type: White
Distance in Light Years: 180
Diameter compared to Sun: 4
Luminosity compared to Sun: 120
Date best observed: Apr 25
Additional information: “Ribs”, sometimes called Coxa (“Hips”) and Chertan (“2 Small Ribs”), Theta is only half a billion years old.

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