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> Constellation of Draco

Constellation of Draco

author: A.Fujii/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-cst30-00002

Image Size 300 DPI: 51 * 40 cm

Draco (the Dragon) is said to represent Ladon, the multi-headed dragon slaughtered by Hercules, an act necessary to obtain the golden apples from the garden of Hesperides as the 11th of his 12 labours. Other ancient, dragonocentric legends exist. The constellation itself is rather indistinct with few bright stars, but it is a large and rambling construction wrapped around the north celestial pole. It extends from close to the Pole Star to more than 40 degrees of delination south of it and wanders over 11 hours of Right Ascension between Hercules and the Big Dipper. It is the 8th largest constelation in terms of area, which is over 1000 square degrees. This image also contains the constellation of Ursa Minor.

 

Keywords for this photo:

ASTERISM - ASTRONOMY - BIG DIPPER - CONSTELLATION - DRACO - LINE - LITTLE DIPPER - MAP - NORTH CELESTIAL POLE - POLARIS - POLE STAR - STAR - URSA MAJOR - URSA MINOR -