Auriga

Auriga is a northern constellation whose name comes from the Latin auriga, meaning charioteer. It is one of the 88 modern constellations and has a long history in classical astronomy, being listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest. Its figure is commonly depicted as a charioteer, and the brightest stars help outline that shape against the Milky Way.

The bright star Capella, designated Alpha Aurigae, is the most prominent feature of Auriga. Capella is a multiple-star system and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Another notable star is Menkalinan, or Beta Aurigae, a relatively bright orange giant. The constellation also contains a number of fainter stars that form its recognizable pattern and its surrounding celestial milieu along the Milky Way.

Auriga hosts several notable deep-sky objects. In binoculars or small telescopes, observers can find the open clusters M36, M37, and M38, which are among the more prominent clusters in the constellation and are popular targets for amateur observers under dark skies.

Observing and visibility: Auriga is best viewed from the northern hemisphere during the winter months, when it climbs higher in the evening sky. Its location near the Milky Way gives it rich star fields and relatively bright clusters, making it identifiable to amateur stargazers during appropriate seasons.

See also: Capella (Alpha Aurigae), Menkalinan (Beta Aurigae), open clusters M36, M37, M38, mythology and history of star names.