Auriga the Charioteer

constellation · winter sky · northern hemisphere · ancient astronomy

Named the Charioteer. Auriga gets its name from Latin and represents a charioteer, a person who drove chariots in ancient times. Ancient astronomers linked it to different mythological charioteers, like Erichthonius and Myrtilus.

Winter Star Show. Auriga shines brightest during winter evenings in the northern hemisphere. It's so prominent that it's part of the Winter Hexagon, a pattern made by six constellations with their brightest stars forming a huge hexagon shape.

Huge in the Sky. Auriga is a massive constellation, taking up 657 square degrees of the night sky. That makes it about half the size of Hydra, the largest constellation of all.

Ancient Star Map. Auriga is one of the original 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy, a famous astronomer who lived in the 2nd century. It has been recognized and tracked by stargazers for nearly 2,000 years.

Northern Hemisphere Home. You can see all of Auriga only if you live north of 34 degrees south latitude. If you're further south, the constellation dips below the horizon and you can't see the whole thing.