Star profile

4 Draco

Variable star

3D likeness based on its real data · class M · ~3,200 K

What is 4 Draco

4 Draconis is an M-type variable red giant some 621 light-years away, nested within the long coils of Draco. Its cooled atmosphere modulates its brightness near magnitude 5.01, right at the edge of unaided perception. Far from the bustle of Cygnus and the Great Bear, it pulses slowly in a region of sky where the mythical dragon wraps the Little Bear in its folds of faint stars.

Where it is and when to see it

4 Draco lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is February, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it never sets and culminates about 72° up.
From New York it never sets and culminates about 61° up.
From Sydney it never rises above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 21° S.

It ranks no. 41 in brightness among the 122 stars of Draco in our catalogue. To find it, start from Eltanin, the brightest: it lies about 40° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 620 years ago.

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Astronomical data for 4 Draco

Constellation: Draco
Apparent magnitude: 5.01
Distance: 621.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 187.528° · Dec 69.201°
Catalogue: HIP 60998 · HD 108907

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Other stars in Draco

Draco has 122 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 122 stars in Draco