When is the best time to observe 10 Draconis?

10 Draconis is best observed from March through May, with peak visibility during April when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 10 Draconis located in the sky?

10 Draconis lies in the constellation Draco at right ascension 13h 51m and declination +64° 43′.

What telescope do I need to split 10 Draconis?

Splitting 10 Draconis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 88.9″ at magnitudes near 4.7. The companion is about 7.0 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

10 Draconis — Double Star in Draco

DoubleStar Draco (Dra) Visible

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.65

Range 4.52 - 4.67

Variable Type LB:

Spectral Type M3.5III

Star Color Red (B-V 1.58)

Distance 233 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 13h 51m 25.9s

Dec +64° 43' 24.0"

Constellation Draco (Dra)

HR 5226

HIP 67627

HD 121130

Flamsteed 10 Dra

Variable ID CU Dra

Double Cat 9039

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.7 mag Companion 11.7 mag Separation 88.9″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Hard	V. hard+	V. hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Medium	Hard+	Hard
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Medium+	Medium	Medium

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Mar – May (peak: Apr)

5Multiple Star System Triple

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AC

Separation 88.9″

Companion Mag 11.7

Position Angle 61°

Star Colors A: Red

Discoverer HJ 3342

Separation over time

Measured 1879 → 2015 (136 y)

Separation drift 86.2" → 88.9" (+2.70")

Rate +0.0199" / y

PA drift 65° → 61° (-4°, -0.029°/y)

Apparent motion is significant on a human timescale — worth revisiting in a decade.

Measured from the WDS observational archive. No orbital solution has been derived — most likely the period is too long to fit an orbit to the available measurement arc.