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Draco constellation

Draco is a constellation of the northern sky. Its brightest star is Eltanin. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): never sets — visible all year round.

  • Alwaysnever sets at 52° N
  • Eltaninbrightest star, magnitude 2.2
  • DraDraco
Show on the sky map
The constellation Draco in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Alioth, Ursa Major — magnitude 1.8. Open on the sky mapDubhe, Ursa Major — magnitude 1.8. Open on the sky mapAlkaid, Ursa Major — magnitude 1.9. Open on the sky mapPolaris, Ursa Minor — magnitude 2.0. Open on the sky mapKochab, Ursa Minor — magnitude 2.1. Open on the sky mapMizar, Ursa Major — magnitude 2.2. Open on the sky mapEltanin, Draco — magnitude 2.2. Open on the sky mapEltaninMerak, Ursa Major — magnitude 2.3. Open on the sky mapAlderamin, Cepheus — magnitude 2.5. Open on the sky mapAthebyne, Draco — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapAthebyneRastaban, Draco — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapRastabanAltais, Draco — magnitude 3.1. Open on the sky mapAltaisAldhibah, Draco — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapAldhibahEdasich, Draco — magnitude 3.3. Open on the sky mapAlahakan, Draco — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapThuban, Draco — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapGrumium, Draco — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapGiausar, Draco — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapTyl, Draco — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapκ Draconis — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapθ Draconis — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapAldhiba, Draco — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapτ Draconis — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapρ Draconis — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapDziban, Draco — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky mapi Draconis — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Draco

A long chain of faint stars winds around the Little Dipper and separates it from the Big one. The Dragon’s head is four stars not far from Vega.

Visible all year round; it is highest in the evening, around 22:00, in July, and half a year later at that time it is lowest, above the northern horizon.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingnever sets — visible all year round
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawnever sets — visible all year round
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgnever sets — visible all year round

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Eltaninγ Draconis 2.2orange—
Athebyneη Draconis 2.7orange—
Rastabanβ Draconis 2.8orange—
Altaisδ Draconis 3.1orange—
Aldhibahζ Draconis 3.2blue—
Edasichι Draconis 3.3orange—
Alahakanχ Draconis 3.5white—
Thubanα Draconis 3.7bluish white—
Grumiumξ Draconis 3.7orange—
Giausarλ Draconis 3.8red—
Tylε Draconis 3.8yellow—
κ Draconis 3.9blue—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Draco in the sky?

A long chain of faint stars winds around the Little Dipper and separates it from the Big one. The Dragon’s head is four stars not far from Vega.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Draco?

At mid-northern latitudes (52° N) Draco never sets and can be seen on any clear night. It is highest in the evening in summer, in July.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Draco?

Eltanin: magnitude 2.2, orange.

How many stars are there in the constellation Draco?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 121 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Summer constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Draco is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map