Draco, the Dragon (Dra)

(DRAY-co)

The Northern constellation of Draco, the Dragon, is best viewed in Summer during the month of July. It's brightest star is Eltanin at magnitude 2.24. The boundary of the Draco constellation contains 22 stars that host known exoplanets.

Draco is a circumpolar constellation, so is visible year-round in the Northern hemisphere. Conversely, it is not visible in the opposite hemisphere unless you are close to the equator.

1. Pronunciation:
2. DRAY-co

1. Meaning:
2. Dragon

1. Genitive:
2. Draconis

1. Abbreviation:
2. Dra

1. Asterism:
2. Lozenge

1. Constellation Family:
2. Ursa Major

1. Hemisphere:
2. Northern

1. Quadrant:
2. NQ3

1. Best viewing month*:
2. July

1. Circumpolar** (N=northern, S=southern):
2. N circumpolar

1. Right Ascension (avg):
2. 17h 57m

1. Declination (avg):
2. 66° 4'

1. Meteor showers:
2. Draconids

1. Brightest star:
2. Eltanin (2.24)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 22

Brightest Stars in Draco

The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Draco by magnitude.

1. Star
2. Magnitude
3. Spectral class

1. Gamma Draconis (γ Dra)
2. 2.24
3. K5III

1. Eta Draconis (η Dra)
2. 2.73
3. G8III

1. Beta Draconis (β Dra)
2. 2.79
3. G2II

1. Delta Draconis (δ Dra)
2. 3.07
3. G9III

1. Zeta Draconis (ζ Dra)
2. 3.17
3. B6III

1. Iota Draconis (ι Dra)
2. 3.29
3. K2III

1. Chi Draconis (χ Dra)
2. 3.55
3. F7Vvar

1. Alpha Draconis (α Dra)
2. 3.67
3. A0III SB

1. Xi Draconis (ξ Dra)
2. 3.73
3. K2III

1. Lambda Draconis (λ Dra)
2. 3.82
3. M0IIIvar

1. Sigma Draconis (Sigma Dra)
2. 4.67
3. K0 V

Double Stars in Draco

These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Draco. Also see all star clusters.

1. Star system
2. Magnitudes
3. Type

1. 16/17 Draconis
2. 5.4, 6.4, 5.5
3. triple

1. Mu Draconis
2. 5.7, 5.7
3. double

1. Nu Draconis
2. 4.9, 4.9
3. double

1. Psi Draconis
2. 4.6, 5.6
3. double

1. 40/41 Draconis
2. 5.7, 6.0
3. double

Nebulae in Draco

Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Draco . Also see all nebulae.

1. Nebula name
2. Catalog #
3. Nebula type

1. Cat's Eye Nebula
2. C6
3. planetary

Galaxies in Draco

The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find galaxies in the constellation Draco . Also see all galaxies.

1. Galaxy name
2. Alt name
3. Galaxy type

1. Draco Dwarf
3. spheroidal

1. Spindle Galaxy
2. M102
3. lenticular

1. Tadpole Galaxy
3. barred spiral

Milky Way Satellites in Draco

Dwarf satellite galaxies that orbit the Milky Way Galaxy located in the constellation Draco. Also see all Milky Way satellite galaxies.

1. Galaxy name
2. Alt name
3. Magnitude

1. Draco Dwarf
3. 10.9

1. Draco II

* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.

** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).