Draco

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The constellation Draco, the dragon, is a northern circumpolar constellation that is visible at latitudes between 90 degrees and -15 degrees. It is a large constellation covering 1,083 square degrees of the sky. This makes it the eighth largest constellation in the night sky. It is bordered by the constellations Boötes, Camelopardalis, Cepheus, Cygnus, Hercules, Lyra, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor. Draco held special significance in the past. About 4,000 years ago, it was the location of the northern pole star, as Ursa Minor is today. Due to the Earth's wobble, or precession, the pole has now shifted to the star Polaris. Draco is also the origin point for the annual Draconids meteor shower.

Draco is one of the 48 constellations cataloged by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. Its name means “the dragon” in Latin. It was the guardian of the star that never moves, the celestial pole. In ancient times, the pole star was believed to be the doorway between the mortal world and eternity. In Greek mythology, the dragon was Laden, a monstrous beast with a hundred heads chosen by Hera to guard the golden apples of immortality. These apples grew in the garden Hesperides, beyond the River of Time in the land of death. Laden was slain by Hercules in the eleventh of his twelve labors. Draco is located very close to the celestial pole, which makes it circumpolar. This means is it visible throughout the night in the northern hemisphere. During the course of the year, it rotates upside down and back again.