Home > Science and Technology > Astronomy and Space Exploration > Constellations

Research topic:Draco

Find more facts and information on our topic page about Draco

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Draco-ast.html" title="Facts and informations about Draco">Draco</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Draco

From: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | Date: 2008 | Copyright information

Draco [Lat.,=the dragon], northern constellation lying SE of Ursa Minor and N of Lyra and Hercules. It is traditionally depicted as a dragon. Draco contains the bright star Eltanin (Gamma Draconis). Thuban (Alpha Draconis) was the polestar 5,000 years ago, i.e., it was the star nearest the celestial pole, but because of the precession of the equinoxes , the polestar is now Polaris . Draco reaches its highest point in the evening sky in July, and is visible throughout the year for observers north of 40°N lat.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Draco." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 8 Jan. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Draco." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (January 8, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Draco-ast.html

"Draco." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved January 08, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Draco-ast.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles from HighBeam Research

(Including press releases, facts, information, and biographies)

	UNIVERSE'S BIGGEST MYSTERY? Astronomer shines light on dark matter Research shows that the elusive material adds mass to Ursa Minor Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 6/17/1996; ; 624 words ; ...years examining a dwarf galaxy called Ursa Minor and its orbit around the Milky Way, the...sun is just one of billions of stars. Ursa Minor, named for the constellation where it...between the massive Milky Way and tiny Ursa Minor is gravity. The same connection exists... Read more
	Evening sky is laden with ancient power struggles Newspaper article from: Intelligencer Journal Lancaster, PA; 2/19/2005; ; 300 words ; ...luminaries spanned across February's evening sky is laden with ancient power struggles...maximum power overhead in our Spring evening sky a month from now with the bull no longer...This vista arched across the February evening sky has been recognized as a harbinger of... Read more
	Racing: JESSICA'S GIVEN IT ALL FOR CORK.(Sport) Newspaper article from: The People (London, England); 6/2/2002; 457 words ; ...trappy. It could well pay to rely on Ursa Minor (3.00) from Aidan O'Brien's powerful...went on to win a maiden at Punchestown. Ursa Minor showed up well on his reappearance at...LARRY LYNX THINKS: 2.30 Sum Leader; 3.00 Ursa Minor; 3.30 Birth Rite (nap); 4.00 Jessica... Read more
	The Sky at Night Newspaper article from: The Independent - London; 4/5/1997; ; 130 words ; For such a well-known constellation, the Little Bear - Ursa Minor - is curiously dim and ill-defined. Its fame hangs largely...corner of the"square" is a challenge for urban sky watchers. Ursa Minor is well-placed in spring and summer evenings. New Moon early... Read more
	Sequoia park cave has scientists agog Newspaper article from: Daily Breeze; 9/25/2006; 213 words ; ...remote mountainside, in August. Visitors to the cave, dubbed Ursa Minor, described seeing millions of crystals that shimmered like...nonprofit Cave Research Foundation discovered the entrance to Ursa Minor, no bigger than a softball, on Aug. 19. Read more
	Mother Lode cave hunters explore the abyss. Newspaper article from: Record (Stockton, CA); 10/8/2006; 700+ words ; ...sink in. McBride, 40, named the cave Ursa Minor, both because of the fossilized bear...stars of the Little Dipper. But while Ursa Minor made headlines because of its vast rooms...them in Calaveras County. Most, like Ursa Minor, won't be put on maps, since they are... Read more
	Sarah's Sunday column Newspaper article from: Yakima Herald-Republic; 4/20/2008; ; 700+ words ; ...guide. Originally the term was applied to the constellation Ursa Minor or the North Star (Polaris) that was used in navigation. The term is derived from Latin Cynosura (Ursa Minor), from Greek kynosoura (dog's tail). diurnation (dy-uhr-NAY... Read more
	EARTH'S CLOSEST PLANETARY NEIGHBORS LIGHT UP THE EVENING SKY Newspaper article from: The Boston Globe; 11/5/2005; ; 661 words ; ...fall, you can actually see this arrangement on display in the evening sky with Venus and Mars shining brilliantly on either side of...to-use maps of stars and constellations across the entire evening sky are available at http://SkyandTelescope.com/ howto/ basics... Read more
	BEAR DIES Newspaper article from: The Boston Globe; 7/25/2001; 50 words ; Ursa Minor at the EcoTarium in Worcester with one of her cubs. Yesterday the country's oldest polar bear, 35, died from a seizure. Ursa was... Read more
	View five planets in the evening sky Mens, co-ed softball is open Newspaper article from: Post-Tribune (IN); 3/29/2002; ; 144 words ; ...Planetarium in Clifford Pierce Middle School, 199 E. 70th Ave., at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 5. Five planets can be viewed in the evening sky during April -- the best gathering of planets until the year 2060. Admission is $3 for adults, and $1.50 for children. Tickets... Read more

For more facts and information, see all related premium articles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauruses

	Draco Book article from: Britannica Concise Encyclopedia ...nothing is known of his life. His harsh legal code (621 ) punished most crimes, even trivial ones, with death. Solon repealed Draco's code, retaining only the homicide statutes.For more information on Draco, visit Britannica.com. Draco Draco Draco Read more
	Draco Book article from: A Dictionary of Astronomy Draco (abbr. Dra, gen. Draconis) The eighth-largest constellation, representing a dragon curled around the north celestial pole. Its brightest star is Gamma Draconis ( Etamin ). Alpha Draconis is known as Thuban . Draco contains several interesting double stars. They include Mu Draconis, a close pair each ... Read more
	Draco Book article from: World Encyclopedia Draco (active 7th century bc ) Athenian political leader and lawmaker. He drew up the first written code of laws in Athens. Famous for their severity (hence the adjective ‘draconian’), the death penalty was prescribed even for minor offences. Read more
	Draco Book article from: World Encyclopedia Draco (Dragon) Long, winding n constellation, representing the dragon slain by Hercules. It extends between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor , with the dragon's head near the star Vega . Read more
	Draco Book article from: The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable Draco (7th century bc ), Athenian legislator. His codification of Athenian law was notorious for its severity in that the death penalty was imposed even for trivial crimes, giving rise to the adjective draconian. Read more