When is the best time to observe 17 Draconis?

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

Where is 17 Draconis located in the sky?

17 Draconis lies in the constellation Draco at right ascension 16h 36m and declination +52° 55′.

What telescope do I need to split 17 Draconis?

Splitting 17 Draconis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 90.2″ at magnitudes near 5.1. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

17 Draconis — Double Star in Draco

Observable Double Star Excellent (63/100)

Sep: 90.2", Companion: mag 5.5

Magnitude 5.1^m DoubleStar Draco (Dra) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.08

Spectral Type B9V

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.04)

Distance 326 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 36m 13.7s

Dec +52° 55' 28.0"

Constellation Draco (Dra)

HR 6185

HIP 81292

HD 150117

SAO 30013

Flamsteed 17 Dra

Double Cat 10129

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.1 mag Companion 5.5 mag Separation 90.2″

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

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 90.2″

Companion Mag 5.5

Position Angle 193°

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

Discoverer STFA 30

Notes

AB binary with HR 6186 = component D; combined colors, combined mag. 5.08, B8V, A1V. Component C = HR 6184 CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1823 → 2018 (195 y)

Separation drift 90.3" → 90.2" (-0.10")

Rate -0.0005" / y

PA drift 196° → 193° (-3°, -0.015°/y)

Essentially fixed on human timescales — the same view your grandchildren will see.

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.