Auriga constellation
Auriga (the Charioteer) is a constellation in the northern sky, best seen in the evening in February. Its brightest star is Capella (magnitude 0.08). Auriga covers 657 square degrees and is the 21st-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Auriga
Facts
| Latin name | Auriga (genitive: Aurigae) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Aur |
| Meaning | the Charioteer |
| Area | 657 square degrees (21st of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 6.0 h, declination +41° |
| Visible from | latitudes 90° N to 34° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | February (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Capella |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 77 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 7 |
| Messier objects | M36, M37, M38 |
| Neighbors | Camelopardalis, Gemini, Lynx, Perseus, Taurus |
How to find Auriga
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look north in February evenings: at about 9 pm Auriga stands highest, around 89° above the northern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 14° above the horizon. The months before and after (January and March) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Auriga borders Camelopardalis, Gemini, Lynx, Perseus and Taurus.
Asterisms with stars in Auriga: Winter Hexagon.
Stars of Auriga
Auriga has 77 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capella | α Aurigae | 0.08 | G5IIIe+G0III | 42 ly |
| Menkalinan | β Aurigae | 1.9 | A2IV | — |
| Mahasim | θ Aurigae | 2.62 | A0pSi | — |
| Hassaleh | ι Aurigae | 2.69 | K3II | 450 ly |
| Almaaz | ε Aurigae | 2.99 | F0Iae+B | 2,000 ly |
| Haedus | η Aurigae | 3.17 | B3V | 233 ly |
| — | δ Aurigae | 3.72 | K0-III | — |
| Saclateni | ζ Aurigae | 3.75 | K4II+B8V | — |
| — | ν Aurigae | 3.97 | G9.5III* | — |
| — | π Aurigae | 4.26 | M3II | — |
| — | κ Aurigae | 4.35 | G8.5IIIb | — |
Deep-sky objects in Auriga
Auriga contains 3 objects from Charles Messier's catalog:
- Messier 36 (M36): open cluster, 6.0 mag
- Messier 37 (M37): open cluster, 5.6 mag
- Messier 38 (M38): open cluster, 6.4 mag
Printable Auriga map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Auriga figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Auriga is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest (2nd century AD). Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Auriga
What is the brightest star in Auriga?
Capella, at magnitude 0.08, about 42 light-years away.
When can you see Auriga?
Auriga is best seen in the evening in February. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 90° N and 34° S.
How many stars are in Auriga?
77 stars in Auriga are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 7 of them have official IAU names.
What does Auriga mean?
Auriga means “the Charioteer” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Aur and the genitive, used in star names such as α Aurigae, is Aurigae.
