Auriga (constellation)
Encyclopedia
Auriga is a constellation
in the northern sky. Its name is Latin
for 'charioteer' and its stars form a shape that has been associated with the pointed helmet of a charioteer. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy
, and remains among the 88 modern constellations today. Its brightest star
is Capella
.
and ζ Aurigae
are peculiar binary star
s. The orbital period of ε Aurigae is approximately 27 years, with an eclipse duration of about 18 months. The visible companion is a bright, older star (previously thought to be a bright F-class
supergiant
). The type of the other star is not known. ζ Aurigae has a period of 970 days, the primary is a K-class
supergiant
and the secondary is a B-class
main sequence
star. Both these systems present a rare stage of binary evolution, as the components are in a short and active evolutionary stage.
is located about 3.5° to the east of β Aurigae
. This marks the point on the celestial sphere opposite the location of the galactic core; hence, this region marks a less extensive and less luminous part of the dust band that forms the spiral arms of the Milky Way
.
Auriga has many open cluster
s and other objects because the Milky Way runs through it. The three brightest open clusters are M36
, M37
and M38
, all of which are visible in binoculars or a small telescope in suburban skies. A larger telescope resolves individual stars. The clusters are about 4100, 4400, and 4200 light years distant, respectively. Their apparent visual magnitudes are 6.3, 6.2, and 7.4, respectively.
Three other open clusters are NGC 2281
, lying close to ψ7 Aurigae, NGC 1664
, which is close to ε Aurigae
, and IC 410 (or NGC 1893
), a cluster with nebulosity next to IC 405
, the Flaming Star Nebula, found about mid-way between M38 and ι Aurigae. AE Aurigae
, a runaway star, is a bright variable star currently located within the Flaming Star Nebula.
, Auriga is identified as the mythological Greek hero Erichthonius of Athens
, the chthonic
son of Hephaestus
who was raised by the goddess Athena
. According to the anonymous writer of the composition Catasterisimi, Erichthonius was generally credited to be the inventor of the quadriga
, the four-horse chariot, which he used in the battle against the usurper Amphictyon
, the event that made Erichthonius the king of Athens
. Erichthonius then dedicated himself to Athena and soon after, Zeus raised the Athenian hero into the night sky in honor of his ingenuity and heroic deeds
Capella
is associated with the mythological she-goat Amalthea
. It forms an asterism
with the stars ζ Aurigae
and η Aurigae
, which are known as the Haedi
(the Kid
s).
(represented by the two bright stars of that name) nearby.
H.A. Rey has suggested an alternative way to connect the stars, which graphically shows the charioteer's head wearing a pointy cap and facing towards Perseus. Stars α Aur
(Capella), β Aur
, θ Aur
, ι Aur
, and ε Aur
form the charioteer's head: with α Aur being of magnitude zero, β Aur being of magnitude two, and the rest of the stars being of magnitude three. Star α Aur may be taken to represent the charioteer's eye, whereas star ι Aur represents the charioteer's chin. Stars β Aur, δ Aur, and α Aur form the charioteer's pointy cap, with δ Aur being the top of the cap. Finally, the stars α Aur, ε Aur
, ζ Aur
, and η Aur form the charioteer's nose: η Aur being of the third magnitude.
, the stars of Auriga are located among three areas: the Purple Forbidden enclosure
(紫微垣, Zǐ Wēi Yuán), the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎, Xī Fāng Bái Hǔ), and the Vermilion Bird of the South (南方朱雀, Nán Fāng Zhū Què).
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
in the northern sky. Its name is Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for 'charioteer' and its stars form a shape that has been associated with the pointed helmet of a charioteer. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
, and remains among the 88 modern constellations today. Its brightest star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
is Capella
Capella (star)
Capella is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the sixth brightest star in the night sky and the third brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus and Vega. Although it appears to be a single star to the naked eye, it is actually a star system of four stars in...
.
Stars
ε AurigaeEpsilon Aurigae
Epsilon Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It is traditionally known as Almaaz, Haldus, or Al Anz. Epsilon Aurigae is an unusual eclipsing binary system comprising an F0 supergiant and a companion which is generally accepted to be a huge dark disk orbiting an unknown object, possibly a...
and ζ Aurigae
Zeta Aurigae
Zeta Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It has the traditional names Haedus and Sadatoni . It is one of the two hædi of the she-goat Capella, the other being Hoedus II, Eta Aurigae...
are peculiar binary star
Binary star
A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common center of mass. The brighter star is called the primary and the other is its companion star, comes, or secondary...
s. The orbital period of ε Aurigae is approximately 27 years, with an eclipse duration of about 18 months. The visible companion is a bright, older star (previously thought to be a bright F-class
Stellar classification
In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based on their spectral characteristics. The spectral class of a star is a designated class of a star describing the ionization of its chromosphere, what atomic excitations are most prominent in the light, giving an objective measure...
supergiant
Supergiant
Supergiants are among the most massive stars. They occupy the top region of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. In the Yerkes spectral classification, supergiants are class Ia or Ib . They typically have bolometric absolute magnitudes between -5 and -12...
). The type of the other star is not known. ζ Aurigae has a period of 970 days, the primary is a K-class
Stellar classification
In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based on their spectral characteristics. The spectral class of a star is a designated class of a star describing the ionization of its chromosphere, what atomic excitations are most prominent in the light, giving an objective measure...
supergiant
Supergiant
Supergiants are among the most massive stars. They occupy the top region of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. In the Yerkes spectral classification, supergiants are class Ia or Ib . They typically have bolometric absolute magnitudes between -5 and -12...
and the secondary is a B-class
Stellar classification
In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based on their spectral characteristics. The spectral class of a star is a designated class of a star describing the ionization of its chromosphere, what atomic excitations are most prominent in the light, giving an objective measure...
main sequence
Main sequence
The main sequence is a continuous and distinctive band of stars that appears on plots of stellar color versus brightness. These color-magnitude plots are known as Hertzsprung–Russell diagrams after their co-developers, Ejnar Hertzsprung and Henry Norris Russell...
star. Both these systems present a rare stage of binary evolution, as the components are in a short and active evolutionary stage.
Named stars
| Bayer Bayer designation A Bayer designation is a stellar designation in which a specific star is identified by a Greek letter, followed by the genitive form of its parent constellation's Latin name... |
Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| α Aur | Capella Capella (star) Capella is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the sixth brightest star in the night sky and the third brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus and Vega. Although it appears to be a single star to the naked eye, it is actually a star system of four stars in... |
Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and... |
little female goat |
| β Aur Beta Aurigae Beta Aurigae , traditionally named Menkalinan, is a white subgiant ternary star system approximately 85 light-years away in the constellation Auriga.- Nomenclature :... |
Menkalinan | Arabic | shoulder |
| "γ Aur" = β Tau | El Nath Beta Tauri Beta Tauri is the second brightest star in the constellation Taurus, with an apparent magnitude of 1.68. Because it is on the boundary of Taurus and Auriga, it also has the redundant Bayer designation Gamma Aurigae , which today is rarely used... |
Arabic | what butts (i.e. the bull's horn) |
| δ Aur | Praja | Hindi Hindi Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi... |
lord |
| ε Aur Epsilon Aurigae Epsilon Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It is traditionally known as Almaaz, Haldus, or Al Anz. Epsilon Aurigae is an unusual eclipsing binary system comprising an F0 supergiant and a companion which is generally accepted to be a huge dark disk orbiting an unknown object, possibly a... |
Al Maz | Arabic | the billy goat |
| ζ Aur Zeta Aurigae Zeta Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It has the traditional names Haedus and Sadatoni . It is one of the two hædi of the she-goat Capella, the other being Hoedus II, Eta Aurigae... |
Saclateni | Arabic | second arm |
| ζ Aur Zeta Aurigae Zeta Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It has the traditional names Haedus and Sadatoni . It is one of the two hædi of the she-goat Capella, the other being Hoedus II, Eta Aurigae... |
Hoedus I | Latin | the (1st) goat kid |
| θ Aur Theta Aurigae Theta Aurigae is a binary star in the constellation Auriga. It is approximately 173 light-years from Earth. Rarely used proper names for this star include Bogardus and Mahasim, the latter from the Arabic المِعْصَم al-micşam "wrist" , which was also used for Eta Aurigae.The primary, θ Aurigae A,... |
Manus | Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and... |
hand |
| η Aur Eta Aurigae Eta Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. Along with ζ Aurigae it represents one of the Kids of the she-goat Capella, from which it gets its Latin traditional name Hoedus II or Haedus II, from the Latin hædus "kid"; Zeta Aurigae is Hoedus I... |
Hoedus II | Latin | the (2nd) goat kid |
| ι Aur Iota Aurigae Iota Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It has the traditional name Al Kab, short for Kabdhilinan, from the Arabic الكعب ذي العنان al-kacb ðīl-cinān "the ankle of the rein holder "... |
Hasseleh | Greek | the hoof |
| λ Aur Lambda Aurigae Lambda Aurigae is a binary star in the constellation Auriga. It is approximately 41.2 light-years from Earth.The primary component, λ Aurigae A, is a yellow G-type subgiant with an apparent magnitude of +4.69. Its companion, λ Aurigae B, is 29 arcseconds away and has an apparent magnitude of +13.4... |
Al Hurr | Arabic | the fawn |
Deep sky objects
The galactic anticenterGalactic anticenter
The galactic anticenter is a theoretical point in the sky that lies directly opposite the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Because this point is relative, it will vary depending on the location of the observer; it is not an actual fixed point in space. Most of the time, this term refers to the...
is located about 3.5° to the east of β Aurigae
Beta Aurigae
Beta Aurigae , traditionally named Menkalinan, is a white subgiant ternary star system approximately 85 light-years away in the constellation Auriga.- Nomenclature :...
. This marks the point on the celestial sphere opposite the location of the galactic core; hence, this region marks a less extensive and less luminous part of the dust band that forms the spiral arms of the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
.
Auriga has many open cluster
Open cluster
An open cluster is a group of up to a few thousand stars that were formed from the same giant molecular cloud and have roughly the same age. More than 1,100 open clusters have been discovered within the Milky Way Galaxy, and many more are thought to exist...
s and other objects because the Milky Way runs through it. The three brightest open clusters are M36
Messier 36
Open Cluster M36 is an open cluster in the Auriga constellation. It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654. M36 is at a distance of about 4,100 light years away from Earth and is about 14 light years across. There are at least sixty members in the cluster...
, M37
Messier 37
Messier 37 is the richest open cluster in the constellation Auriga. It was discovered by Hodierna before 1654....
and M38
Messier 38
Messier 38 is an open cluster in the Auriga constellation.It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654 and independently found by Le Gentil in 1749...
, all of which are visible in binoculars or a small telescope in suburban skies. A larger telescope resolves individual stars. The clusters are about 4100, 4400, and 4200 light years distant, respectively. Their apparent visual magnitudes are 6.3, 6.2, and 7.4, respectively.
Three other open clusters are NGC 2281
NGC 2281
NGC 2281 is an open cluster in Auriga constellation.-References:* * *...
, lying close to ψ7 Aurigae, NGC 1664
NGC 1664
NGC 1664 is an open cluster in the constellation of Auriga. It contains fewer than 50 stars and lies at a distance of 1199 parsecs.-References:* -External links:* *...
, which is close to ε Aurigae
Epsilon Aurigae
Epsilon Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It is traditionally known as Almaaz, Haldus, or Al Anz. Epsilon Aurigae is an unusual eclipsing binary system comprising an F0 supergiant and a companion which is generally accepted to be a huge dark disk orbiting an unknown object, possibly a...
, and IC 410 (or NGC 1893
NGC 1893
NGC 1893 is an open cluster in the constellation Auriga.-References:* *...
), a cluster with nebulosity next to IC 405
IC 405
IC 405 is an emission/reflection nebula in the constellation Auriga, surrounding the bluish star AE Aurigae. It shines at magnitude +6.0. Its celestial coordinates are RA dec...
, the Flaming Star Nebula, found about mid-way between M38 and ι Aurigae. AE Aurigae
AE Aurigae
AE Aurigae is a runaway star in the constellation Auriga; it lights the Flaming Star Nebula.AE Aurigae is a blue O-type main sequence dwarf with a mean apparent magnitude of +5.99. It is classified as an Orion type variable star and its brightness varies irregularly between magnitudes +5.78 and...
, a runaway star, is a bright variable star currently located within the Flaming Star Nebula.
Mythology
In Greek mythologyGreek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, Auriga is identified as the mythological Greek hero Erichthonius of Athens
Erichthonius of Athens
King Erichthonius was a mythological early ruler of ancient Athens, Greece. He was, according to some legends, autochthonous and raised by the goddess Athena. Early Greek texts do not distinguish between him and Erectheus, his grandson, but by the fourth century B.C...
, the chthonic
Chthonic
Chthonic designates, or pertains to, deities or spirits of the underworld, especially in relation to Greek religion. The Greek word khthon is one of several for "earth"; it typically refers to the interior of the soil, rather than the living surface of the land or the land as territory...
son of Hephaestus
Hephaestus
Hephaestus was a Greek god whose Roman equivalent was Vulcan. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, the King and Queen of the Gods - or else, according to some accounts, of Hera alone. He was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes...
who was raised by the goddess Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
. According to the anonymous writer of the composition Catasterisimi, Erichthonius was generally credited to be the inventor of the quadriga
Quadriga
A quadriga is a car or chariot drawn by four horses abreast . It was raced in the Ancient Olympic Games and other contests. It is represented in profile as the chariot of gods and heroes on Greek vases and in bas-relief. The quadriga was adopted in ancient Roman chariot racing...
, the four-horse chariot, which he used in the battle against the usurper Amphictyon
Amphictyon
Amphictyon , in Greek mythology, was the second son of Deucalion and Pyrrha, although there was also a tradition that he was autochthonous ; he is also said to be a son of Hellen son of Deucalion and Pyrrha. Amphictyon was king of Thermopylae and married a daughter of Cranaus of Athens...
, the event that made Erichthonius the king of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. Erichthonius then dedicated himself to Athena and soon after, Zeus raised the Athenian hero into the night sky in honor of his ingenuity and heroic deeds
Capella
Capella (star)
Capella is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the sixth brightest star in the night sky and the third brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus and Vega. Although it appears to be a single star to the naked eye, it is actually a star system of four stars in...
is associated with the mythological she-goat Amalthea
Amalthea (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Amalthea or Amaltheia is the most-frequently mentioned foster-mother of Zeus. Her name in Greek is clearly an epithet, signifying the presence of an earlier nurturing goddess, whom the Hellenes, whose myths we know, knew to be located in Crete, where Minoans may have called...
. It forms an asterism
Asterism (astronomy)
In astronomy, an asterism is a pattern of stars recognized on Earth's night sky. It may form part of an official constellation, or be composed of stars from more than one. Like constellations, asterisms are in most cases composed of stars which, while they are visible in the same general direction,...
with the stars ζ Aurigae
Zeta Aurigae
Zeta Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It has the traditional names Haedus and Sadatoni . It is one of the two hædi of the she-goat Capella, the other being Hoedus II, Eta Aurigae...
and η Aurigae
Eta Aurigae
Eta Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. Along with ζ Aurigae it represents one of the Kids of the she-goat Capella, from which it gets its Latin traditional name Hoedus II or Haedus II, from the Latin hædus "kid"; Zeta Aurigae is Hoedus I...
, which are known as the Haedi
Haedi
Haedi, , is a classical and easily observed pair of stars in the constellation of Auriga. It is composed of the stars ζ Aurigae Hoedus I and η Aurigae Hoedus II, where Hoedus is a medieval Latin spelling of Haedus....
(the Kid
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
s).
Visualizations
Traditionally, illustrations of Auriga represent it as a chariot and its driver. The driver is often represented as a shepherd, usually with a goat flung over his left shoulder (due to the resemblance of that area to a lump), with two kidsGoat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
(represented by the two bright stars of that name) nearby.
H.A. Rey has suggested an alternative way to connect the stars, which graphically shows the charioteer's head wearing a pointy cap and facing towards Perseus. Stars α Aur
Capella (star)
Capella is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the sixth brightest star in the night sky and the third brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus and Vega. Although it appears to be a single star to the naked eye, it is actually a star system of four stars in...
(Capella), β Aur
Beta Aurigae
Beta Aurigae , traditionally named Menkalinan, is a white subgiant ternary star system approximately 85 light-years away in the constellation Auriga.- Nomenclature :...
, θ Aur
Theta Aurigae
Theta Aurigae is a binary star in the constellation Auriga. It is approximately 173 light-years from Earth. Rarely used proper names for this star include Bogardus and Mahasim, the latter from the Arabic المِعْصَم al-micşam "wrist" , which was also used for Eta Aurigae.The primary, θ Aurigae A,...
, ι Aur
Iota Aurigae
Iota Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It has the traditional name Al Kab, short for Kabdhilinan, from the Arabic الكعب ذي العنان al-kacb ðīl-cinān "the ankle of the rein holder "...
, and ε Aur
Eta Aurigae
Eta Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. Along with ζ Aurigae it represents one of the Kids of the she-goat Capella, from which it gets its Latin traditional name Hoedus II or Haedus II, from the Latin hædus "kid"; Zeta Aurigae is Hoedus I...
form the charioteer's head: with α Aur being of magnitude zero, β Aur being of magnitude two, and the rest of the stars being of magnitude three. Star α Aur may be taken to represent the charioteer's eye, whereas star ι Aur represents the charioteer's chin. Stars β Aur, δ Aur, and α Aur form the charioteer's pointy cap, with δ Aur being the top of the cap. Finally, the stars α Aur, ε Aur
Epsilon Aurigae
Epsilon Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It is traditionally known as Almaaz, Haldus, or Al Anz. Epsilon Aurigae is an unusual eclipsing binary system comprising an F0 supergiant and a companion which is generally accepted to be a huge dark disk orbiting an unknown object, possibly a...
, ζ Aur
Zeta Aurigae
Zeta Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It has the traditional names Haedus and Sadatoni . It is one of the two hædi of the she-goat Capella, the other being Hoedus II, Eta Aurigae...
, and η Aur form the charioteer's nose: η Aur being of the third magnitude.
Equivalents
For Sumerians, most part of Auriga was called Gamlu, "the Hook". In Chinese astronomyChinese astronomy
Astronomy in China has a very long history, with historians considering that "they [the Chinese] were the most persistent and accurate observers of celestial phenomena anywhere in the world before the Arabs."...
, the stars of Auriga are located among three areas: the Purple Forbidden enclosure
Purple Forbidden enclosure
The Purple Forbidden enclosure is one of the San Yuan or Three enclosures. Stars and constellations of this group lie near the north celestial pole and visible all year from temperate latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.-Asterisms:The asterisms are :...
(紫微垣, Zǐ Wēi Yuán), the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎, Xī Fāng Bái Hǔ), and the Vermilion Bird of the South (南方朱雀, Nán Fāng Zhū Què).
See also
- Psi AurigaePsi AurigaeThe Bayer designation Psi Aurigae is shared by ten star systems that lie in the constellation Auriga near the border with Lynx:* ψ1 Aurigae ＝ 46 Aurigae* ψ2 Aurigae ＝ 50 Aurigae* ψ3 Aurigae ＝ 52 Aurigae* ψ4 Aurigae ＝ 55 Aurigae...
- Telescopium HerscheliiTelescopium HerscheliiTelescopium Herschelii was a constellation created by Maximilian Hell in 1789 to honor the famous English astronomer Sir William Herschel's discovery of the planet Uranus. It was located in the constellation Auriga near the border to Lynx and Gemini. It is no longer in use.-External links:* *...
- Auriga (Chinese astronomy)
- HD 30453HD 30453HD 30453 is spectroscopic binary....