The figure in the sky: north is up, east is to the left. Larger dots are brighter stars.

Constellation

Auriga

The shape: a large pentagon with bright Capella.

Auriga, the Charioteer, is said to be Erichthonius, who invented the four-horse chariot. His star Capella – the “little goat” – is one of the brightest stars of the winter sky, and in winter it stands almost directly overhead in Switzerland.

The stars of the figure

From bright to faint. Brightness is given in magnitudes (mag): the smaller the number, the brighter the star.

Capella · 0.08 mag
Elnath · 1.65 mag
Menkalinan · 1.9 mag
ThetaAur · 2.62 mag
Hassaleh · 2.69 mag
Almaaz · 2.99 mag

In the 3D model

In the 3D model, under “Explore”, the sky dome shows when the constellation Auriga can be seen above Switzerland. “Constellations in 3D” shows how far apart its stars really are.

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