SkyEye: Auriga

The Charioteer

Abbreviation:	Aur
Genitive:	Aurigae
Origin:	[antiquity]
Fully Visible:	32°S – 90°N

The figure of the charioteer is associated with several Greek mythological figures, including Erichtonius of Athens (inventor of the four-horse chariot), Myrtilus (a famous charioteer) and Theseus's son Hippolytus (who was killed in a chariot wreck). He is sometimes shown in old star maps as holding a she-goat (Capra, now Capella) and her kids, the Haedi (Saclateni and Haedus).

The constellation of Auriga

Notable Features

Visible Named Stars
α Aur	Capella	Capella is a first magnitude star. It sometimes appears as Alanz (from the Arabic al‑ʿanz meaning 'the female goat') or Ahajoth in older star atlases and catalogues. It is also known as Al Aiouk (from the Arabic al‑ʿayyūk which means 'the impeder') in Mohammad Al Achsasi Al Mouakket's calendarium.
β Aur	Menkalinan	The name of this second-magnitude A-type star is of Arabic origin and means 'the shoulder of the rein-holder'.
γ Aur	Elnath	This star has been assigned to the constellation Taurus and is designated β Tau. It appears as Kurn al Thaur al Shimalih (from the Arabic qarn al‑thawr al‑shamāliy meaning 'the northern horn of the bull') in Mohammad Al Achsasi Al Mouakket's calendarium.
ε Aur	Almaaz	This star sometimes appears as Alanz in older star atlases and catalogues.
ζ Aur	Saclateni	This is an eclipsing binary system. It sometimes appears as Haedus Secundus or Sadatoni in older star atlases and catalogues.
η Aur	Haedus	This star sometimes appears as Haedus Primus in older star atlases and catalogues.
θ Aur	Mahasim	This name has been assigned to the brighter of the two components of the binary star θ Aur. Mahasim is a variable star of the type α² CVn, meaning it is chemically peculiar and possesses a strong magnetic field.
ι Aur	Hassaleh	The star sometimes appears as Al Kab or Alkab in older star atlases and catalogues.
Other Interesting Stars
HAT‑P‑9	Tevel	This twelfth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet and appears close to the boundary with the constellation Gemini.
HD 45350	Lucilinburhuc	This eighth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet and also and appears close to the boundary with the constellation Gemini.
HD 49674	Nervia	This eighth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet and is located just south of the star ψ⁷ Aur.
Deep Sky Objects
M36		An open star cluster, it is best viewed through binoculars or a small telescope.
M37		Optical aids are necessary to see this rich open cluster.
M38		Again, binoculars or a telescope is necessary to see this open cluster.
C31	Flaming Star Nebula	Also catalogued as IC 405, this is an emission/reflection nebula surrounding the variable star AE Aur. A telescope is required to see it.
Meteor Shower Radiants
206 AUR	Aurigids	This short-lived meteor shower appears for about a week at the end of August and beginning of September, peaking around 31 August. The source of this shower is comet C/1911 N1 Keiss and the shower exhibits occasional outbursts of activity.
224 DAU	δ Aurigids	This minor shower occurs in early to mid-October and like its predecessor, is active for only about a week. It currently has a ZHR of 2 and its source is unknown.