Constellation of Draco

The constellation of Draco, from the Latin for dragon, is the eighth largest constellation. Despite this it contains no very bright stars. It is, however, easy to find as it seems to surround the constellation of Ursa Minor. A meteor shower is associated with it: the Draconids, active from 6 to 10 October.

In Greek mythology this constellation represented the dragon that attacked Athena in the war between the Olympian gods and the Titans, or the dragon that was killed by Cadmos near to where he founded Thebes, or again the dragon guarding the golden fleece, or the dragon Ladon which guarded the golden apples in the garden of the Hesperides and was killed by Heracles.