| Auriga (The Charioteer) |
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A large and prominent northerly constellation, described from ancient times as representing a charioteer and among those listed by Ptolemy (c. AD 140). Its brightest star is Capella, associated by the Greeks with the mythological she-goat Amalthea, who nurtured the infant Zeus. The nearby triangle of fainter stars, Epsilon (e), Zeta (z) and Eta (h), are collectively called the Kids. The star Elnath, formerly designated Gamma (g) Aurigae and shared with the neighbouring constellation of Taurus, now officially belongs to Taurus as Beta Tauri. See also: Table 4. |