Draco Constellation Facts: Interesting Details That Will Amaze You!

Humans have always been fascinated by stars and galaxies.

To study these celestial objects and bodies, we have divided them into groups; thus, a group of stars is known as a constellation. The concept of a constellation helps us study stars in a more organized way, and there are many constellations in the milky way galaxy itself.

One such famous constellation is the Draco constellation. The constellation Draco has both myths and facts associated with its name, and many legends draw a direct relation between the constellation Draco with mythological stories.

However, this can be said about any constellations. Most of the constellations can be seen from the northern hemisphere, and the Draco constellation can also be seen clearly from the northern hemisphere.

Location of Draco constellation

Constellation Draco is the eighth largest constellation in the sky; Ursa Major and Ursa minor is the largest constellation of all.

Etamin is the brightest star in the Draco constellation.

Draco occupies up to 1083 square degrees of space in the sky.

Draco is known to be those ancient constellations that have been around since the Greek ages.

There are different giant stars in the sky that are famous and have been around humans for a long time.

The yellow giant star is one such star. It goes by the name nodus Secundus. The other name of this star is delta Draconis.

In the night sky, you can see the Draco constellation from a north celestial pole which is why it's known as a circumpolar constellation.

You can quickly identify the position of Draco if you spot the ring of Lyra and Deneb.

The pole star of the constellation is Thuban.

Draco also contains the cat's eye nebula. In earlier times, ancient people saw Draco as a symbol of eternity.

This constellation also helps researchers find the right way to spot several other small galaxies, and one such galaxy is the Draco dwarf galaxy.

The cat's eye planetary nebula is another famous card in this deck. Once you find the correct position of the Draco constellation, you can see this as well.

When it comes to the legends surrounding Draco, there are two major stories, and one is from ancient greek times. Draco symbolizes a dragon who was the guard of the golden apples in the garden of gods and goddesses.

July is the suggested month to have your finest shot at witnessing the Draco constellation.

Characteristics Of Draco Constellation

With etamin as the bright star of Draco, this constellation resides in the northern hemisphere. You can see Draco and its brightest star in the third quadrant.

This constellation looks like a giant snake in the sky. That's why it's named Draco, a snake in Latin.

There are few dim stars in Draco that can still be seen from the naked eye, and one such dim star is the HIP 63340.

Apart from constellations, the galaxy is filled with giant stars as well. The blue giant star, also called the zeta Draconis, is one of those.

The brightest star in the constellation is the gamma Draconis.

Tadpole galaxy, also known as the spiral galaxy, is another important galaxy in the sky.

You can easily spot the Draco star and the Draco constellation by first locating the big dipper.

Stars Of Draco Constellation

Rastaban is the head of Draco, and it also has a dwarf star nearby it, which can be seen clearly in the night sky.

A lenticular galaxy is a neighboring galaxy, and it has more than a billion stars of its own.

During the start of winter, the northern hemisphere experiences a meteor shower which is from the head of the Draco constellation.

The meteor showers are called draconids, as Draco is responsible for them.

Draco is visible almost throughout the year, and you can see it more clearly during nighttime. However, in the summers, the constellation is at its prime.

We can say that Draco is a summer constellation. Other famous summer constellations are Cygnus and Delphinus.

Greeks are responsible for not only discovering constellations but several other galaxies as well. The spheroidal galaxy, which is nearby Draco, was also discovered by greeks.

A Greek astronomer discovered Draco in the 2nd century. The Greek astronomer who discovered this constellation was Ptolemy.

If you look closely at Draco, you can see more than just the stars that the Draco constellation has.

Draco is also near to several other galaxies, which can be seen through Draco easily, and one such is the spindle galaxy.

You can never see Draco from the southern hemisphere, as it never sets below the horizon, so it's impossible to see this from the southern hemisphere.

If you want to see Draco at its prime, then the month of July would be ideal for it. However, at night, 9 pm is when this constellation is at its peak and highest point and is clearly visible.

Symbol And Bordering Constellations Of Draco

A 2nd-century astronomer named Ptolemy discovered around 48 constellations, and Draco happens to be one of them.

Several other constellations are neighbors to the constellation Draco, and one such is the famous Ursa minor.

Draco also has its own meteor showers, which are known as draconids.

Lyra and Cepheus are other constellations that are nearby to Draco.

Draco is known as the circumpolar type of constellation, as it never goes below the horizon and cannot ever be located from the southern hemisphere.

Draco is situated in an area where it's very near to constellations such as the boots but very far from zodiac constellations and other such kinds of constellations.

Thuban is the pole star of Draco, and it means "head of the snake."