42 Draconis (abbreviated 42 Dra), formally named Fafnir (/ˈfɑːvnər/ or /ˈfɑːfnɪər/),[5][6] is a 5th magnitude K-type giant star located approximately 295 light years away in the constellation of Draco.

As of 2009, an extrasolar planet (designated 42 Draconis b, later named Orbitar) is thought to be orbiting the star.

In July 2014 the International Astronomical Union launched NameExoWorlds, a process for giving proper names to certain exoplanets and their host stars.

[9] In December 2015, the IAU announced the winning names were Fafnir for this star and Orbitar for its planet.

[11] Fafnir was a Norse mythological dwarf who turned into a dragon, it is also the name of a fictional planet in Larry Niven's Known Space universe of similar description, ('Draco' is Latin for 'dragon'); Orbitar is a contrived word paying homage to the space launch and orbital operations of NASA.