Aurigae

Aurigae is the Latin genitive form of the constellation Auriga, the Charioteer, and is used in astronomical naming to indicate stars that belong to that constellation. For example, stars designated Mu Aurigae or Epsilon Aurigae bear the aurigae suffix to show their planetary or stellar context within Auriga.

The constellation Auriga is situated in the northern celestial hemisphere and is most readily visible from mid‑to‑high northern latitudes in winter evenings. Its brightest star is Capella (Alpha Aurigae), a prominent, nearby yellowish star that is actually a multiple-star system consisting of at least four components. Capella is among the brightest stars in the night sky and serves as a central anchor of Auriga’s distinctive pattern.

One of the most notable objects in Auriga is Epsilon Aurigae, an eclipsing binary famous for a long-lasting, well-observed eclipse caused by a substantial disk around its companion. The primary star is a luminous bright object, and the eclipse repeats approximately every 27 years, lasting about two years.

Auriga contains several deep-sky targets as well, including open clusters such as Messier 36, Messier 37, and Messier 38. These clusters, along with various nebulae and fainter galaxies, contribute to Auriga’s value for stargazers and researchers.

The name Auriga derives from Greek mythology, referring to the Charioteer. The modern constellation boundaries were defined by the IAU and published by Eugène Delporte in 1930.