Yellow star · Auriga

Capella

Also known as: α Aurigae (α Aur), HIP 24608

mag 0.143 light-years

About

Capella (α Aurigae) is a yellow star of magnitude 0.1 in Auriga, about 43 light-years away.

Capella is in the constellation Auriga.
Best evenings: around late January it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 34° S.
Star patterns: Winter Hexagon.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesA first-magnitude star, obvious even from a city.
Binoculars (10×50)Dazzling, with its colour stronger than to the eye.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Still a point of light at any magnification — stars are too far away to show a disc. Low in the sky, bright stars twinkle and flash colours.

Stars look the same in any instrument: brighter and sharper, but never bigger.

Proper name	Capella
Designation	α Aurigae (α Aur)
Hipparcos number	HIP 24608
Type	Yellow star
Spectral type	M1: comp
Colour	YellowB−V colour index 0.80
Magnitude	0.1The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	43 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1983.
Proper motion	0.43″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Auriga
Right ascension (J2000)	05h 16m 41.4s
Declination (J2000)	+45° 59′ 53″