Auriga Constellation | Constellations In The Northern Hemisphere

AURIGA CONSTELLATION – In this topic, we are going to know and learn about the constellation Auriga, the Charioteer.

It is a constellation in the northern sky. The name is the Latin term for “the Charioteer” and is represented by the pointed helmet of a charioteer, which its stars are forming.

It is usually depicted as a charioteer, who holds the reins of a chariot with his right hand and carrying a goat and its two young on his left arm. It is usually identified with Erichthonius, king of Athens and son of the fire god Hephaestus.

It houses the sixth brightest star in the sky known as Capella, as well as the galactic anti-centre, the point in the sky opposite to the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy, which is in Sagittarius.

Aside from that, it also contains open star clusters Messier 36, Messier 37, and Messier 38 and the emission/reflection nebula IC 405, or known as the Flaming Star Nebula.

It is the 21st constellation in size which occupies an area of 657 square degrees. It can be found in NQ2, the second quadrant in the northern hemisphere.

It belongs to the Perseus family of constellations, together with Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Cetus, Lacerta, Pegasus, Perseus, and Triangulum.

Stars

The constellation contains ten named stars, namely: