Capella

Alpha Aurigae

Auriga

0.08
Apparent Mag
42.9
Distance (ly)
G8III
Spectral Type
4,970
Temperature (K)

Capella is the brightest star in Auriga and the sixth-brightest in the night sky. It is a four-star system composed of two binary pairs with two evolved yellow giant stars as the primary pair.

Stellar Data

Apparent Magnitude0.08
Absolute Magnitude-0.48
Distance42.9 light-years
Spectral TypeG8III
Temperature4,970 K
Luminosity78.7 L☉
Radius11.98 R☉
Mass2.57 M☉
Right Ascension05h 16m 41.4s
Declination+45° 59′ 52.8″
ConstellationAuriga

Notable Facts

  • Capella is a quadruple star system consisting of two pairs of binary stars
  • The name means little she-goat in Latin
  • Its two primary stars are both yellow giants orbiting each other every 104 days

More Stars in Auriga

View constellation