Draco
Northern constellation representing a dragon, listed by Ptolemy.
Draco is a constellation in the far northern sky, its name Latin for dragon. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century Greek astronomer Ptolemy and remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. The north pole of the ecliptic lies in Draco, and the constellation is circumpolar from northern latitudes, meaning it never sets and can be seen at any time of year.
- Type
- Constellation
- Listed by
- Ptolemy (2nd century)
- Modern status
- One of 88 modern constellations
- Brightest star
- Gamma Draconis (Eltanin), magnitude 2.2
- Meteor shower
- October Draconids (Giacobinids)
Lore & Background
Draco was identified with several dragons in Greek mythology. According to Gaius Julius Hyginus in De Astronomica, it was one of the Gigantes who battled the Olympian gods for ten years in the Gigantomachy, before the goddess Athena killed it and tossed it into the sky. As Athena threw the dragon, it became twisted on itself and froze at the cold north celestial pole. Aelius Aristides names it Aster or Asterius, and says Athens' Great Panathenaea festival celebrated Athena's victory over him, coinciding with the culmination of the constellation's head as seen from the Athenian Acropolis. The Catasterismi attributed to Eratosthenes identify Draco as Ladon, the dragon who guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides; after Heracles killed Ladon, Hera transformed him into a constellation. Sometimes Draco is represented as the monstrous son of Gaia, Typhon.
Reader's Guide
Draco holds historical significance as one of Ptolemy's original 48 constellations and remains a key fixture in the northern sky.
Common Misconceptions (Editorial)
Some believe Draco is only a minor constellation visible only in winter, but it is circumpolar from northern latitudes and can be seen at any time of year. Others assume its brightest star is Alpha Draconis, but the brightest star is actually Gamma Draconis (Eltanin), with a magnitude of 2.2.
Why It Matters (Editorial)
Draco endures because it represents the interplay between myth and astronomy, featuring prominently in multiple Greek legends and marking the north pole of the ecliptic. Its presence as a year-round fixture in northern skies also makes it a reliable point of reference for both amateur stargazers and celestial navigation.
More in Constellations 1-22
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