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Stars and Sticks| Abbreviation | Aur |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Charioteer |
| Pronunciation Guide is based on “Pronouncing Astronomical Names,” published in 1943 by the American Astronomical Society. | aw-RYE-guh |
| Genitive The genitive is the Latin possessive form used in star names. For example, Alpha Orionis means “the Alpha of Orion.” | aw-RYE-jee |
| Best Month | February |
| Visibility | Northern |
| Origin | AncientThese figures are rooted in the classical Greek and Mesopotamian traditions cataloged by Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD. |
| Author | PtolemyPtolemy, a 2nd-century Greco-Egyptian astronomer, cataloged the 48 classical constellations in his landmark work, the Almagest. These form the core of the 88 modern constellations recognized today. |
| Type | constellation |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Description | The Charioteer is most commonly identified as Erichthonius, the lame son of Hephaestus who invented the four-horse chariot to compensate for his disability, earning such admiration that Zeus placed him among the stars. The constellation is anchored by the brilliant yellow star Capella — the sixth brightest star in the entire night sky — which represents the she-goat Amalthea that suckled the infant Zeus. Capella is actually a quaternary star system — four stars in two pairs orbiting each other — just 43 light-years from Earth. Auriga also hosts three prominent Messier star clusters: M36, M37, and M38, each a spectacular sight through binoculars. |
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Monthly sky charts courtesy of What's Out Tonight? — Copyright ©2026 Ken Graun. Star charts are optimized for mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Click a chart to view or download the PDF. For guidance on using the chart, or to purchase a planisphere and astronomy books, visit kenpress.com.
Images: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/E. Slawik · IAU and Sky & Telescope · Stellarium — Full credits →
