When is the best time to observe Grumium?

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

Where is Grumium located in the sky?

Grumium lies in the constellation Draco at right ascension 17h 54m and declination +56° 52′.

What telescope do I need to see Grumium?

At magnitude 3.8, Grumium is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Grumium — Star in Draco

HIP 87585; Xi Draconis; 32 Draconis

Magnitude 3.8^m Star Draco (Dra) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Grumium

Description

Grumium, Xi Draconis, is a K-type giant of spectral class K2 III about 113 light-years away. It shines at magnitude 3.75 and has a slightly variable brightness from mild surface pulsations. Grumium is a member of the four-star head of Draco, along with Etamin (Gamma Dra), Rastaban (Beta Dra), and Nu Dra. The head of the dragon is one of the most compact and recognizable patterns in the northern sky.

Observing Tips

Grumium marks the southern corner of the Dragon's Head — a small asymmetric quadrilateral. In binoculars the head asterism is unmistakable: four bright stars forming a distorted rectangle. Grumium's warm orange color contrasts with the nearby whiter stars. Circumpolar from mid-northern latitudes.

History

The name Grumium comes from Latin, meaning "lower jaw" of the dragon. It was applied in medieval astronomical manuscripts based on Greek and Latin translations of Arabic texts. The IAU adopted the name in 2017.

Fun Facts

The Dragon's Head stars were all named Etamin, Rastaban, Grumium, and Nodus I in various pre-modern astronomy, with individual identities often confused. The head is crossed by the galactic meridian (Draco's body arches all the way around the North Celestial Pole) and has served as a navigation reference point for millennia.