Star profile

Sigma Aurigae

3D likeness based on its real data · class K · ~4,200 K

What is Sigma Aurigae

A distant orange star in Auriga, 467 light-years away, in the constellation that classical tradition tied to the mythical inventor of the horse-drawn chariot. It is a K-type giant, already swollen compared with its younger self, whose warm light has crossed centuries to reach our instruments. It glows away from dazzling Capella, in a zone of sky where the Milky Way passes between veils of dust and every star looks like a beacon through mist.

Where it is and when to see it

Sigma Aurigae lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is December, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 76° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 87° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 19° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 53° S.

It ranks no. 28 in brightness among the 76 stars of Auriga in our catalogue. To find it, start from Capella, the brightest: it lies about 9° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 470 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Sigma Aurigae

Constellation: Auriga
Apparent magnitude: 5.02
Distance: 467.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 81.163° · Dec 37.385°
Catalogue: HIP 25292 · HD 35186

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Other stars in Auriga

Auriga has 76 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 76 stars in Auriga