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Auriga (The Charioteer)
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Constellations Visible in Canadian Skies
Select a constellation from the list below to learn more:
Aquarius
Aquila
Aries
Auriga
Boötes
Cancer
Canis Major
Canis Minor
Capricornus
Cassiopeia
Cygnus
Gemini
Hercules
Hydra
Libra
Leo
Lyra
Orion
Perseus
Pisces
Sagittarius
Scorpius
Taurus
Ursa Minor and Ursa Major
Virgo
Legend
Auriga was originally known as Erichthonius. His father was Hephaestus, the god of fire, but he had no mother. When he was a young boy, the goddess Athene found him and decided to bring him up, teaching him the skills of horsemanship. Erichthonius learned well and went on to invent the four-horse chariot. Later, he became king of Athens and convinced all his people to worship his friend and mentor Athene.
The brightest star in Auriga is Capella, a yellowish star 10 times bigger and 100 times brighter than our Sun. Capella means "she-goat", and Auriga is often drawn carrying a goat on his left shoulder.
