The Dragon
Draco
Genitive: Draconis · abbreviation Dra
Best evening month
August
Visible from
26°S to 90°N
Centre RA
17h 53m 00s
Centre Dec
+64° 00′
In your sky
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Mythology & origin
Ladon, the dragon guarding the golden apples of the Hesperides, slain by Heracles. Its star Thuban was the pole star when the Egyptian pyramids were built.
Ptolemy · Almagest, 2nd century AD
Brightest stars
- mag 2.24
Eltanin
γ Draconis · HIP 87833
- mag 2.73
Athebyne
η Draconis · HIP 80331
- mag 2.79
Rastaban
β Draconis · HIP 85670
- mag 3.07
Altais
δ Draconis · HIP 94376
- mag 3.17
Aldhibah
ζ Draconis · HIP 83895
- mag 3.29
Edasich
ι Draconis · HIP 75458
- mag 3.55
Alahakan
χ Draconis · HIP 89937
- mag 3.67
Thuban
α Draconis · HIP 68756
- mag 3.73
Grumium
ξ Draconis · HIP 87585
- mag 3.82
Giausar
λ Draconis · HIP 56211