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Auriga constellation

Auriga is a constellation of the northern sky. Its brightest star is Capella. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Winterbest seen
  • Capellabrightest star, magnitude 0.1
  • AurAuriga
Show on the sky map
The constellation Auriga in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Capella, Auriga — magnitude 0.1. Open on the sky mapCapellaElnath, Taurus — magnitude 1.6. Open on the sky mapMirfak, Perseus — magnitude 1.8. Open on the sky mapMenkalinan, Auriga — magnitude 1.9. Open on the sky mapMenkalinanMahasim, Auriga — magnitude 2.6. Open on the sky mapMahasimHassaleh, Auriga — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapHassalehAtik, Perseus — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapAlcyone, Taurus — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapε Persei — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapAlmaaz, Auriga — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapAlmaazHaedus, Auriga — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapSaclateni, Auriga — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapδ Aurigae — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapν Aurigae — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapπ Aurigae — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapκ Aurigae — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapτ Aurigae — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky map16 Aurigae — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Auriga

Yellow Capella is one of the brightest stars in the sky. On winter evenings it is almost overhead, and the constellation’s pentagon lies between Perseus and Gemini, above Orion.

Best seen in winter: in January around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 80°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawrises and sets, fully visible
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgnever sets — visible all year round

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Capellaα Aurigae 0.1yellowabout 43 light years
Menkalinanβ Aurigae 1.9bluish white—
Mahasimθ Aurigae 2.6bluish white—
Hassalehι Aurigae 2.7orange—
Almaazε Aurigae 3.0yellow—
Haedusη Aurigae 3.2blue—
Saclateniζ Aurigae 3.7orange—
δ Aurigae 3.7orange—
ν Aurigae 4.0orange—
π Aurigae 4.3red—
κ Aurigae 4.3orange—
τ Aurigae 4.5orange—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Auriga in the sky?

Yellow Capella is one of the brightest stars in the sky. On winter evenings it is almost overhead, and the constellation’s pentagon lies between Perseus and Gemini, above Orion.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Auriga?

In winter: in January around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga?

Capella: magnitude 0.1, yellow. Distance: about 43 light years.

How many stars are there in the constellation Auriga?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 75 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Winter constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Auriga is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map