SkyEye - Auriga

The Charioteer

Abbreviation: Aur
Genitive: Aurigae
Origin: [antiquity]

The constellation of Auriga

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).

Notable Features

Designation	Name	Description
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
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
ι Aur	Hassaleh
HAT-P-9	Tevel	This twelfth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet.
HD 45350	Lucilinburhuc	This eighth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet.
HD 49674	Nervia	This eighth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet.

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	This is an emission/reflection nebula surrounding the variable star AE Aur. A telescope is required to see it.