Capella
Product information
Description
Capella shines with a warm golden hue in the northern night sky. As the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, it appears high overhead in winter and stands out as a beacon of warmth and steadiness among colder, bluish stars.
Additional Information
- Constellation
- Auriga
- Spectral Type
- G8III + G0III
- Apparent Magnitude
- 0.08
- Distance (Light Years)
- 42.9
- Right Ascension
- 05h 16m 41.4s
- Declination
- +45° 59′ 53″
- Solar Masses
- 2.7
- Radius (Solar)
- 12
- Temperature (Kelvin)
- 4940
- Age (Million Years)
- 590
Discovery
- Ancient Civilizations
- Greeks, Romans, Babylonians, Arabs
- Historical Significance
- Capella has been known since antiquity and played a key role in agricultural calendars. It was one of the first stars recorded in ancient sky-watching traditions due to its brightness and prominence in the winter sky.
Cultural Significance
- Mythology
- In Roman mythology, Capella represents the she-goat Amalthea who nursed the infant Jupiter. Its name means 'little she-goat' in Latin. The star was considered sacred by shepherds and farmers, symbolizing nurturing and protection.
- Navigation
- Capella’s high brightness and position in the northern sky made it a reliable guide for ancient seafarers and travelers, particularly during winter months.
- Modern Reference
- Capella is frequently featured in astronomy education, star maps, and as a calibration target in space observatories due to its steady light and well-known spectrum.
Notable Features
- Stellar Motion
- Capella shows modest proper motion, typical for a relatively nearby star system.
- Additional Fact
- Capella is a complex **quadruple star system**, composed of two large G-type giants orbiting each other closely, and two red dwarfs orbiting farther out. It is one of the brightest yellow stars in the sky, rivaling the Sun in appearance but far more massive.
User Dedications
- Dedications
- This star has not been claimed yet. Be the first to dedicate it to someone special!