When is the best time to observe 16 Draconis?

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

Where is 16 Draconis located in the sky?

16 Draconis lies in the constellation Draco at right ascension 16h 36m and declination +52° 54′.

What telescope do I need to split 16 Draconis?

Splitting 16 Draconis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 125.5″ at magnitudes near 5.5. The companion is about 5.7 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

16 Draconis — Double Star in Draco

Magnitude 5.5^m DoubleStar Draco (Dra) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.53

Spectral Type B9.5Vn

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.07)

Distance 326 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 36m 11.5s

Dec +52° 54' 01.0"

Constellation Draco (Dra)

HR 6184

HIP 81290

HD 150100

SAO 30012

Flamsteed 16 Dra

Double Cat 10129

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.5 mag Companion 11.2 mag Separation 125.5″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

4Visibility

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Best season Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Multiple Star System Quadruple

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AC

Separation 125.5″

Companion Mag 11.2

Position Angle 123°

Star Colors A: Blue-white C: Blue-white

Discoverer STFA 30

Notes

CPM with HR 6185.

Separation over time

Measured 1879 → 2020 (141 y)

Separation drift 116.9" → 125.5" (+8.60")

Rate +0.0610" / y

PA drift 122° → 123° (+1°, +0.007°/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.