Post by glactus on Feb 17, 2008 10:46:54 GMT
Auriga is an ancient Northern Hemisphere constellation featuring the 5th brightest star in the heavens, Capella, (Small goat) magnitude 0.08
Auriga is one of the 'outwards' constellations, being along the plane of the Milky Way, towards the edge of our Galaxy. See above
Auriga has many open clusters 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.
Three other open clusters are NGC 2281, e Aurigae, NGC 1664, which is close to e Aurigae, and IC 410 (or NGC 1893), a cluster with nebulosity next to IC 405, the Flaming Star Nebula, found a few degrees to the right of M38. AE Aurigae, a runaway star, is a bright variable star currently located within the Flaming Star Nebula.
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.
Credits:
Image: David De Martin
Map and text: wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auriga_(constellation)