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Draco

Genitive: Draconis

Northern Year-round 1083 sq° Dra

Brightest star: Eltanin (mag 2.24)

RA 17h 19m 60.0s · Dec +65d 00' 0"

Long winding dragon

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Draco - Mythology

Mythology

The Dragon, often identified with Ladon, the hundred-headed dragon that guarded the golden apples in the Garden of the Hesperides, slain by Heracles.

Observing Highlights

A large circumpolar constellation winding around Ursa Minor. Contains the Cat's Eye Nebula (NGC 6543), a complex planetary nebula, and several galaxies including NGC 5907.

When is Draco up?

Showing 50.0° N, 0.0° E. Save your location for a personalised chart.
12:0015:0018:0021:0000:0003:0006:0009:0012:00JanJan 00:00 — altitude 28°Jan 01:00 — altitude 31°Jan 02:00 — altitude 35°Jan 03:00 — altitude 40°Jan 04:00 — altitude 46°Jan 05:00 — altitude 52°Jan 06:00 — altitude 58° (twilight)Jan 07:00 — altitude 64° (twilight)Jan 08:00 — altitude 70° (daytime)Jan 09:00 — altitude 74° (daytime)Jan 10:00 — altitude 75° (daytime)Jan 11:00 — altitude 72° (daytime)Jan 12:00 — altitude 66° (daytime)Jan 13:00 — altitude 60° (daytime)Jan 14:00 — altitude 54° (daytime)Jan 15:00 — altitude 48° (daytime)Jan 16:00 — altitude 42° (daytime)Jan 17:00 — altitude 37° (daytime)Jan 18:00 — altitude 33° (twilight)Jan 19:00 — altitude 29°Jan 20:00 — altitude 27°Jan 21:00 — altitude 25°Jan 22:00 — altitude 25°Jan 23:00 — altitude 26°Jan: best around 05:00 localFebFeb 00:00 — altitude 35°Feb 01:00 — altitude 40°Feb 02:00 — altitude 46°Feb 03:00 — altitude 52°Feb 04:00 — altitude 58°Feb 05:00 — altitude 65°Feb 06:00 — altitude 70° (twilight)Feb 07:00 — altitude 74° (daytime)Feb 08:00 — altitude 75° (daytime)Feb 09:00 — altitude 72° (daytime)Feb 10:00 — altitude 66° (daytime)Feb 11:00 — altitude 60° (daytime)Feb 12:00 — altitude 54° (daytime)Feb 13:00 — altitude 48° (daytime)Feb 14:00 — altitude 42° (daytime)Feb 15:00 — altitude 37° (daytime)Feb 16:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Feb 17:00 — altitude 29° (daytime)Feb 18:00 — altitude 27° (twilight)Feb 19:00 — altitude 25° (twilight)Feb 20:00 — altitude 25°Feb 21:00 — altitude 26°Feb 22:00 — altitude 28°Feb 23:00 — altitude 32°Feb: best around 05:00 localMarMar 00:00 — altitude 45°Mar 01:00 — altitude 51°Mar 02:00 — altitude 57°Mar 03:00 — altitude 64°Mar 04:00 — altitude 69°Mar 05:00 — altitude 74° (twilight)Mar 06:00 — altitude 75° (daytime)Mar 07:00 — altitude 72° (daytime)Mar 08:00 — altitude 67° (daytime)Mar 09:00 — altitude 61° (daytime)Mar 10:00 — altitude 55° (daytime)Mar 11:00 — altitude 49° (daytime)Mar 12:00 — altitude 43° (daytime)Mar 13:00 — altitude 38° (daytime)Mar 14:00 — altitude 33° (daytime)Mar 15:00 — altitude 29° (daytime)Mar 16:00 — altitude 27° (daytime)Mar 17:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Mar 18:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Mar 19:00 — altitude 26° (twilight)Mar 20:00 — altitude 28°Mar 21:00 — altitude 31°Mar 22:00 — altitude 35°Mar 23:00 — altitude 40°Mar: best around 04:00 localAprApr 00:00 — altitude 57°Apr 01:00 — altitude 64°Apr 02:00 — altitude 70°Apr 03:00 — altitude 74°Apr 04:00 — altitude 75° (twilight)Apr 05:00 — altitude 72° (daytime)Apr 06:00 — altitude 67° (daytime)Apr 07:00 — altitude 61° (daytime)Apr 08:00 — altitude 55° (daytime)Apr 09:00 — altitude 48° (daytime)Apr 10:00 — altitude 43° (daytime)Apr 11:00 — altitude 37° (daytime)Apr 12:00 — altitude 33° (daytime)Apr 13:00 — altitude 29° (daytime)Apr 14:00 — altitude 27° (daytime)Apr 15:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Apr 16:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Apr 17:00 — altitude 26° (daytime)Apr 18:00 — altitude 28° (daytime)Apr 19:00 — altitude 31° (daytime)Apr 20:00 — altitude 35° (twilight)Apr 21:00 — altitude 40°Apr 22:00 — altitude 46°Apr 23:00 — altitude 52°Apr: best around 03:00 localMayMay 00:00 — altitude 69°May 01:00 — altitude 74°May 02:00 — altitude 75° (twilight)May 03:00 — altitude 72° (twilight)May 04:00 — altitude 67° (daytime)May 05:00 — altitude 61° (daytime)May 06:00 — altitude 55° (daytime)May 07:00 — altitude 49° (daytime)May 08:00 — altitude 43° (daytime)May 09:00 — altitude 38° (daytime)May 10:00 — altitude 33° (daytime)May 11:00 — altitude 29° (daytime)May 12:00 — altitude 27° (daytime)May 13:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)May 14:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)May 15:00 — altitude 26° (daytime)May 16:00 — altitude 28° (daytime)May 17:00 — altitude 31° (daytime)May 18:00 — altitude 35° (daytime)May 19:00 — altitude 40° (daytime)May 20:00 — altitude 45° (daytime)May 21:00 — altitude 51° (twilight)May 22:00 — altitude 58° (twilight)May 23:00 — altitude 64°May: best around 01:00 localJunJun 00:00 — altitude 75° (twilight)Jun 01:00 — altitude 72° (twilight)Jun 02:00 — altitude 67° (twilight)Jun 03:00 — altitude 61° (twilight)Jun 04:00 — altitude 55° (daytime)Jun 05:00 — altitude 48° (daytime)Jun 06:00 — altitude 43° (daytime)Jun 07:00 — altitude 37° (daytime)Jun 08:00 — altitude 33° (daytime)Jun 09:00 — altitude 29° (daytime)Jun 10:00 — altitude 27° (daytime)Jun 11:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Jun 12:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Jun 13:00 — altitude 26° (daytime)Jun 14:00 — altitude 28° (daytime)Jun 15:00 — altitude 31° (daytime)Jun 16:00 — altitude 35° (daytime)Jun 17:00 — altitude 40° (daytime)Jun 18:00 — altitude 46° (daytime)Jun 19:00 — altitude 52° (daytime)Jun 20:00 — altitude 58° (daytime)Jun 21:00 — altitude 64° (twilight)Jun 22:00 — altitude 70° (twilight)Jun 23:00 — altitude 74° (twilight)JulJul 00:00 — altitude 67°Jul 01:00 — altitude 61° (twilight)Jul 02:00 — altitude 55° (twilight)Jul 03:00 — altitude 49° (twilight)Jul 04:00 — altitude 43° (daytime)Jul 05:00 — altitude 38° (daytime)Jul 06:00 — altitude 33° (daytime)Jul 07:00 — altitude 29° (daytime)Jul 08:00 — altitude 27° (daytime)Jul 09:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Jul 10:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Jul 11:00 — altitude 26° (daytime)Jul 12:00 — altitude 28° (daytime)Jul 13:00 — altitude 31° (daytime)Jul 14:00 — altitude 35° (daytime)Jul 15:00 — altitude 40° (daytime)Jul 16:00 — altitude 45° (daytime)Jul 17:00 — altitude 51° (daytime)Jul 18:00 — altitude 58° (daytime)Jul 19:00 — altitude 64° (daytime)Jul 20:00 — altitude 70° (daytime)Jul 21:00 — altitude 74° (twilight)Jul 22:00 — altitude 75° (twilight)Jul 23:00 — altitude 72° (twilight)Jul: best around 00:00 localAugAug 00:00 — altitude 55°Aug 01:00 — altitude 48°Aug 02:00 — altitude 43°Aug 03:00 — altitude 37° (twilight)Aug 04:00 — altitude 33° (twilight)Aug 05:00 — altitude 29° (daytime)Aug 06:00 — altitude 27° (daytime)Aug 07:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Aug 08:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Aug 09:00 — altitude 26° (daytime)Aug 10:00 — altitude 28° (daytime)Aug 11:00 — altitude 31° (daytime)Aug 12:00 — altitude 35° (daytime)Aug 13:00 — altitude 40° (daytime)Aug 14:00 — altitude 45° (daytime)Aug 15:00 — altitude 52° (daytime)Aug 16:00 — altitude 58° (daytime)Aug 17:00 — altitude 64° (daytime)Aug 18:00 — altitude 70° (daytime)Aug 19:00 — altitude 74° (daytime)Aug 20:00 — altitude 75° (twilight)Aug 21:00 — altitude 72° (twilight)Aug 22:00 — altitude 67°Aug 23:00 — altitude 61°Aug: best around 22:00 localSepSep 00:00 — altitude 42°Sep 01:00 — altitude 37°Sep 02:00 — altitude 33°Sep 03:00 — altitude 29°Sep 04:00 — altitude 27° (twilight)Sep 05:00 — altitude 25° (twilight)Sep 06:00 — altitude 25° (daytime)Sep 07:00 — altitude 26° (daytime)Sep 08:00 — altitude 28° (daytime)Sep 09:00 — altitude 31° (daytime)Sep 10:00 — altitude 35° (daytime)Sep 11:00 — altitude 40° (daytime)Sep 12:00 — altitude 46° (daytime)Sep 13:00 — altitude 52° (daytime)Sep 14:00 — altitude 58° (daytime)Sep 15:00 — altitude 64° (daytime)Sep 16:00 — altitude 70° (daytime)Sep 17:00 — altitude 74° (daytime)Sep 18:00 — altitude 75° (daytime)Sep 19:00 — altitude 72° (twilight)Sep 20:00 — altitude 67° (twilight)Sep 21:00 — altitude 60°Sep 22:00 — altitude 54°Sep 23:00 — altitude 48°Sep: best around 21:00 localOctOct 00:00 — altitude 33°Oct 01:00 — altitude 29°Oct 02:00 — altitude 27°Oct 03:00 — altitude 25°Oct 04:00 — altitude 25°Oct 05:00 — altitude 26° (twilight)Oct 06:00 — altitude 28° (daytime)Oct 07:00 — altitude 31° (daytime)Oct 08:00 — altitude 35° (daytime)Oct 09:00 — altitude 40° (daytime)Oct 10:00 — altitude 45° (daytime)Oct 11:00 — altitude 52° (daytime)Oct 12:00 — altitude 58° (daytime)Oct 13:00 — altitude 64° (daytime)Oct 14:00 — altitude 70° (daytime)Oct 15:00 — altitude 74° (daytime)Oct 16:00 — altitude 75° (daytime)Oct 17:00 — altitude 72° (daytime)Oct 18:00 — altitude 67° (twilight)Oct 19:00 — altitude 61°Oct 20:00 — altitude 54°Oct 21:00 — altitude 48°Oct 22:00 — altitude 42°Oct 23:00 — altitude 37°Oct: best around 19:00 localNovNov 00:00 — altitude 27°Nov 01:00 — altitude 25°Nov 02:00 — altitude 25°Nov 03:00 — altitude 26°Nov 04:00 — altitude 28°Nov 05:00 — altitude 31°Nov 06:00 — altitude 35° (twilight)Nov 07:00 — altitude 40° (daytime)Nov 08:00 — altitude 46° (daytime)Nov 09:00 — altitude 52° (daytime)Nov 10:00 — altitude 58° (daytime)Nov 11:00 — altitude 64° (daytime)Nov 12:00 — altitude 70° (daytime)Nov 13:00 — altitude 74° (daytime)Nov 14:00 — altitude 75° (daytime)Nov 15:00 — altitude 72° (daytime)Nov 16:00 — altitude 67° (daytime)Nov 17:00 — altitude 60° (twilight)Nov 18:00 — altitude 54° (twilight)Nov 19:00 — altitude 48°Nov 20:00 — altitude 42°Nov 21:00 — altitude 37°Nov 22:00 — altitude 33°Nov 23:00 — altitude 29°Nov: best around 19:00 localDecDec 00:00 — altitude 25°Dec 01:00 — altitude 26°Dec 02:00 — altitude 28°Dec 03:00 — altitude 31°Dec 04:00 — altitude 35°Dec 05:00 — altitude 40°Dec 06:00 — altitude 45° (twilight)Dec 07:00 — altitude 51° (twilight)Dec 08:00 — altitude 58° (daytime)Dec 09:00 — altitude 64° (daytime)Dec 10:00 — altitude 70° (daytime)Dec 11:00 — altitude 74° (daytime)Dec 12:00 — altitude 75° (daytime)Dec 13:00 — altitude 72° (daytime)Dec 14:00 — altitude 67° (daytime)Dec 15:00 — altitude 61° (daytime)Dec 16:00 — altitude 54° (daytime)Dec 17:00 — altitude 48° (twilight)Dec 18:00 — altitude 42°Dec 19:00 — altitude 37°Dec 20:00 — altitude 33°Dec 21:00 — altitude 29°Dec 22:00 — altitude 27°Dec 23:00 — altitude 25°Dec: best around 18:00 local
below horizon astronomical dark — low to high altitude twilight daytime (sun up) best night-time hour

Right now

Daytime
52°
NW (az 320°)
setting

Upcoming (local)

Rise never sets
Transit 02:44 75°
Set never sets

Across the year

Best month April
Peak altitude 75°
Circumpolar here yes
Dark-sky hours / year 2618

Neighboring Constellations

Ursa Minor Ursa Major Cepheus Hercules

Showpieces in Draco

3
41 Dra

HIP 88136; 41 Dra

5.68 mag 18.6″ B: 6.0 F7 Easy
RY Dra

HR 9116

5.90 mag 5.9 - 8.0 SRB C Easy
Dziban

HIP 86614; Psi1 Dra; 31 Dra

4.58 mag 30.2″ B: 5.6 F5IV-V Easy

Main Stars in Draco

20
Etamin

HIP 87833; Gamma Dra; 33 Dra

2.23 mag 142.3″ B: 11.2 K5III Hard
Athebyne

HIP 80331; Eta Dra; 14 Dra

2.74 mag 4.7″ B: 8.2 G8III-IV Very Hard
Rastaban

HIP 85670; Beta Dra; 23 Dra

2.79 mag G2Ib-IIa Easy
Nodus Secundus

HIP 94376; Delta Dra; 57 Dra

3.07 mag G9III Easy
Aldhibah

HIP 83895; Zeta Dra; 22 Dra

3.17 mag B6IV Easy
Ed Asich

HIP 75458; Iota Dra; 12 Dra

3.29 mag 252.6″ B: 8.9 K2III Medium
Chi Dra

HIP 89937; Chi Dra; 44 Dra

3.57 mag F7V (metal-weak) Easy
Thuban

HIP 68756; Alpha Dra; 11 Dra

3.65 mag A0IV Easy
Grumium

HIP 87585; Xi Dra; 32 Dra

3.75 mag K2III Easy
Epsilon Dra

HIP 97433; Epsilon Dra; 63 Dra

3.83 mag 3.1″ B: 6.9 G7IIIb Fe-1 Hard
Giausar

HIP 56211; Lambda Dra; 1 Dra

3.84 mag M0III-IIIa Ca1 Easy
Kappa Dra

HIP 61281; Kappa Dra; 5 Dra

3.87 mag B5IIIe Easy
Theta Dra

HIP 78527; Theta Dra; 13 Dra

4.01 mag F8IV Easy
Phi Dra

HIP 89908; Phi Dra; 43 Dra

4.22 mag 0.6″ B: 5.9 A0pSi: Very Hard
HIP 47193
4.29 mag K3IIIa Easy
Tau Dra

HIP 94648; Tau Dra; 60 Dra

4.45 mag K2+IIIbCN1Fe1 Easy
Rho Dra

HIP 98702; Rho Dra; 67 Dra

4.51 mag K3III Easy
Dziban

HIP 86614; Psi1 Dra; 31 Dra

4.58 mag 30.2″ B: 5.6 F5IV-V Easy
Pi Dra

HIP 95081; Pi Dra; 58 Dra

4.59 mag A2III s Easy
10 Dra

HIP 67627; 10 Dra

4.65 mag 88.9″ B: 11.7 M3.5III Very Hard

Double Stars in Draco

15
41 Dra

HIP 88136; 41 Dra

5.68 mag 18.6″ B: 6.0 F7 Easy
Dziban

HIP 86614; Psi1 Dra; 31 Dra

4.58 mag 30.2″ B: 5.6 F5IV-V Easy
17 Dra

HIP 81292; 17 Dra

5.08 mag 90.2″ B: 5.5 B9V Easy
40 Dra

HIP 88127; 40 Dra

6.04 mag 19.3″ B: 6.7 F7 Easy
Alrakis

HIP 83608; Mu Dra; 21 Dra

5.80 mag 2.7″ B: 5.7 F7V Hard
Nu¹ Dra

HIP 85819; Nu Dra; 24 Dra

4.88 mag 62.3″ B: 4.9 A6V Easy
Nu² Dra

HIP 85829; Nu Dra; 25 Dra

4.87 mag 62.2″ B: 4.9 A4m Easy
39 Dra

HIP 90156; 39 Dra

4.98 mag 3.8″ B: 8.1 A1V Hard
47 Dra

HIP 92512; 47 Dra

4.66 mag 37.6″ B: 8.3 G9IIIFe-0.5 Easy
HIP 47260
6.42 mag 4.9″ B: 7.2 F2V+F1V Easy
HIP 92717
6.22 mag 5.7″ B: 7.3 A1V Easy
HIP 93053
6.45 mag 17.4″ B: 9.6 G5IV+G8V Medium
HIP 96771
6.51 mag 18.2″ B: 8.9 A5V Medium
Epsilon Dra

HIP 97433; Epsilon Dra; 63 Dra

3.83 mag 3.1″ B: 6.9 G7IIIb Fe-1 Hard
75 Dra

HIP 100965; 75 Dra

5.46 mag 196.6″ B: 6.7 G9III Easy

Variable Stars in Draco

2
RY Dra

HR 9116

5.90 mag 5.9 - 8.0 SRB C Easy
AT Dra

HIP 79804

5.40 mag 5.18 - 5.54 SRB M4IIIa Hard

Deep Sky Objects in Draco

30
Galaxy (29)
Caldwell 3 survey image
Caldwell 3

NGC 4236

9.7 mag 21 SBd Hard
NGC 5907 survey image
NGC 5907
10.4 mag 12.3 SAc Hard
NGC 6503 survey image
NGC 6503
10.2 mag 6.2 Sc Medium
NGC 5985 survey image
NGC 5985
11.0 mag 5.5 Sb Hard
Messier 102 survey image
Messier 102

NGC 5866

9.9 mag 5.2 S0 Medium
NGC 3147 survey image
NGC 3147
10.7 mag 4.0 Sbc Hard
NGC 6015 survey image
NGC 6015
11.2 mag 5.4 Sc Hard
NGC 5879 survey image
NGC 5879
11.5 mag 4.4 Sbc Hard
NGC 5908 survey image
NGC 5908
11.9 mag 3.2 SBb Very Hard
NGC 6643 survey image
NGC 6643
11.1 mag 3.9 Sc Very Hard
NGC 4125 survey image
NGC 4125
9.8 mag 5.1 E6 Hard
NGC 4319 survey image
NGC 4319
12.0 mag 3.1 SBab Very Hard
NGC 5678 survey image
NGC 5678
12.0 mag 3.2 SABb Very Hard
NGC 5963 survey image
NGC 5963
12.0 mag 3.5 SABb Hard
NGC 5987 survey image
NGC 5987
13.0 mag 4.7 Sb Very Hard
NGC 2963 survey image
NGC 2963
14.0 mag 1.4 SBab Very Hard
NGC 3144 survey image
NGC 3144
14.0 mag 1.4 SBab Very Hard
NGC 6306 survey image
NGC 6306
14.0 mag 1.2 SBab Very Hard
NGC 6667 survey image
NGC 6667
12.0 mag 2.6 SABa Hard
NGC 6786 survey image
NGC 6786
13.0 mag SABb Very Hard
NGC 6654 survey image
NGC 6654
11.6 mag 3.0 S0-a Hard
NGC 4332 survey image
NGC 4332
13.0 mag 2.3 SBa Very Hard
NGC 6143 survey image
NGC 6143
14.0 mag 1.2 SABb Very Hard
NGC 4133 survey image
NGC 4133
13.0 mag SABb Very Hard
NGC 4386 survey image
NGC 4386
12.0 mag 3.0 S0 Very Hard
NGC 4857 survey image
NGC 4857
14.0 mag SABb Very Hard
NGC 6292 survey image
NGC 6292
14.0 mag SABb Very Hard
NGC 6418 survey image
NGC 6418
14.0 mag SBab Very Hard
NGC 6552 survey image
NGC 6552
14.0 mag SBab Very Hard
Planetary Nebula (1)
Cat's Eye Nebula survey image
Cat's Eye Nebula

NGC 6543

C6

8.1 mag 0.3 Medium