Mythology
In Greek mythology, 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 Kids).
| Constellation | |
 List of stars in Auriga | |
| Abbreviation | Aur |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Aurigae |
| Pronunciation | /ɔːˈraɪɡə/ Auríga, genitive /ɔːˈraɪdʒiː/ |
| Symbolism | the Charioteer |
| Right ascension | 6 h |
| Declination | +40° |
| Quadrant | NQ1 |
| Area | 657 sq. deg. (21st) |
| Main stars | 5, 8 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars | 65 |
| Stars with planets | 6 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 4 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 1 |
| Brightest star | Capella (α Aur) (0.08m) |
| Nearest star | QY Aur (20.74 ly, 6.36 pc) |
| Messier objects | 3 |
| Meteor showers | Alpha Aurigids Delta Aurigids |
| Bordering constellations | Camelopardalis Perseus Taurus Gemini Lynx |
| Visible at latitudes between +90° and −40°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of Late February to early March. | |
