Draco
The dragon coiling around the north pole
Best on June–August evenings · far-northern sky (circumpolar for much of the northern hemisphere).
Draco is a vast, sprawling constellation that winds between the two celestial bears — Ursa Major and Ursa Minor — in a long, sinuous curve ending in a compact diamond-shaped head. It's circumpolar for most northern observers, looping around the pole all year, but summer evenings are when the whole dragon is strung high overhead and easiest to trace.
How to find it
On summer evenings from northern latitudes, start at the Big Dipper and arc outward toward the Little Dipper — Draco's long body fills the space between them, curving in a wide S-shape around Polaris. Follow the tail from near the Dipper's bowl, trace the winding body, and you'll arrive at a small but distinct diamond of four stars near Hercules: that's the dragon's head, marked by the brightest star Eltanin.
Brightest stars
Eltanin (γ Dra) leads at magnitude 2.23, a warm orange giant sitting at one corner of the dragon's head. Rastaban (β Dra) glows beside it at magnitude 2.79, making the pair a striking duo, with Altais (δ Dra) at 3.07 and Aldhibain (ζ Dra) at 3.17 marking the long neck.
Worth seeing
The four-star diamond of the dragon's head is the highlight — Eltanin and Rastaban close together in a compact knot, easy to pick out once you trace the body up from the bears, and a satisfying reward for following the whole winding chain.
Frequently asked
When is Draco visible?
Draco is circumpolar from mid-northern latitudes, meaning it never fully sets and is technically visible year-round — but summer evenings from June through August are the best time, when the constellation rides high overhead in the far northern sky.
What are the brightest stars in Draco?
Eltanin (γ Dra, magnitude 2.23) is the brightest, sitting in the dragon's head alongside Rastaban (2.79). Altais (3.07), Aldhibain (3.17), and Edasich (3.29) trace the body, with the historically famous Thuban (α Dra, 3.65) marking the tail.
Which hemisphere is Draco best seen from?
Draco is a northern sky constellation, best seen from the northern hemisphere where it circles the celestial pole without setting. From southern latitudes it stays too low or never rises at all.
Nearby constellations
Ursa Minor · Cepheus · Lyra · Cygnus · Cassiopeia · Hercules · Ursa Major · Boötes