When is the best time to observe 41 Draconis?

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

Where is 41 Draconis located in the sky?

41 Draconis lies in the constellation Draco at right ascension 18h 00m and declination +80° 00′.

What telescope do I need to split 41 Draconis?

Splitting 41 Draconis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 18.6″ at magnitudes near 5.7. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

41 Draconis — Double Star in Draco

Observable Double Star Excellent (70/100)

Sep: 18.6", Companion: mag 6.0

Magnitude 5.7^m DoubleStar Draco (Dra) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan Star Hop

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.68

Spectral Type F7

Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.50)

Distance 130 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 18h 00m 09.2s

Dec +80° 00' 15.0"

Constellation Draco (Dra)

HR 6810

HIP 88136

HD 166866

SAO 8996

Flamsteed 41 Dra

Double Cat 11061

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.7 mag Companion 6.0 mag Separation 18.6″

Sign in and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.

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

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season May – Jul (peak: Jun)

5Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 18.6″

Companion Mag 6.0

Companion Sp F7V

Position Angle 232°

Star Colors A: Yellow B: Yellow

Discoverer STF2308

Notes

Binary with HR 6809. Faint component C at 221".

Separation over time

Measured 1782 → 2023 (241 y)

Separation drift 20.7" → 18.6" (-2.10")

Rate -0.0087" / y

PA drift 235° → 232° (-3°, -0.012°/y)

Slow change over generations — observable in lifetime comparisons.

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.