Draco constellation
Draco (the Dragon) is a constellation in the northern sky, best seen in the evening in July. Its brightest star is Eltanin (magnitude 2.23). Draco covers 1,083 square degrees and is the 8th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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How to find Draco, step by step
The dragon winds between the two Dippers.
- Find Vega high overhead on a summer evening.
- Northwest of Vega four stars in a small lopsided square form the dragon's head; Eltanin is the brightest of them.
- From the head the body winds north around the Little Dipper and then west between the two Dippers, ending between the bowl of the Little Dipper and the Big Dipper. Thuban, in the middle of the tail, was the pole star about 4,700 years ago.
Detailed star map of Draco
Facts
| Latin name | Draco (genitive: Draconis) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Dra |
| Meaning | the Dragon |
| Area | 1,083 square degrees (8th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 16.2 h, declination +72° |
| Visible from | latitudes 90° N to 4° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | July (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Eltanin |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 124 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 16 |
| Messier objects | M102 |
| Neighbors | Boötes, Camelopardalis, Cepheus, Cygnus, Hercules, Lyra, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor |
How to find Draco
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Draco is circumpolar: it never sets and is visible all night, all year, highest in the north about 58° above the horizon in July evenings. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it stays below the horizon. The months before and after (June and August) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Draco borders Boötes, Camelopardalis, Cepheus, Cygnus, Hercules, Lyra, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
Stars of Draco
Draco has 124 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eltanin | γ Draconis | 2.23 | K5III | — |
| Athebyne | η Draconis | 2.74 | G8-IIIab | 89 ly |
| Rastaban | β Draconis | 2.79 | G2Ib-IIa | 398 ly |
| Altais | δ Draconis | 3.07 | G9III | 103 ly |
| Aldhibah | ζ Draconis | 3.17 | B6III | 417 ly |
| Edasich | ι Draconis | 3.29 | K2III | 103 ly |
| — | χ Draconis | 3.57 | F7V | — |
| Thuban | α Draconis | 3.65 | A0III | 268 ly |
| Grumium | ξ Draconis | 3.75 | K2-III | 112 ly |
| — | ε Draconis | 3.83 | G7IIIbCN-2 | — |
| Giausar | λ Draconis | 3.84 | M0IIICa-1 | 387 ly |
| — | κ Draconis | 3.87 | B6IIIpe | — |
Deep-sky objects in Draco
Draco contains one object from Charles Messier's catalog:
- Messier 102 (M102): lenticular galaxy, 9.9 mag
Printable Draco map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Draco figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Draco is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest (2nd century AD). Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Draco
What is the brightest star in Draco?
Eltanin, at magnitude 2.23.
When can you see Draco?
Draco is best seen in the evening in July. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 90° N and 4° S.
How many stars are in Draco?
124 stars in Draco are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 16 of them have official IAU names.
What does Draco mean?
Draco means “the Dragon” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Dra and the genitive, used in star names such as γ Draconis, is Draconis.
