Auriga

Auriga is a prominent northern constellation easily recognized by Capella, the sixth brightest star in the sky. The constellation lies in the Milky Way and is rich in open clusters, including M36, M37, and M38. Capella is a system of four stars in two binary pairs.

Location in the Sky

When to Observe

Auriga is best observed during February. It is located in the NQ2 quadrant and is primarily visible from the northern hemisphere. The constellation contains 8 main stars forming its asterism, with 65 Bayer/Flamsteed designated stars in total. Its brightest star is Capella.

Mythology & History

Auriga is commonly identified with Erichthonius of Athens, a legendary king raised by the goddess Athena and credited with inventing the four-horse chariot. In another version, the charioteer is Myrtilus, the charioteer of King Oenomaus. The constellation has been recognized since Babylonian times.