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Capella

The Shepherdˆs Star, Alpha Aurigae, 13 Aurigae

Yellow giant in Auriga

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Proper Names	Capella, The Shepherd's Star
Bayer Designation	Alpha Aurigae
Flamsteed Number	13 Aurigae
HR (BSC)	1708
HD	34029
Constellation	Auriga
Right Ascension	5h 16m 41s
Declination	+45° 59' 53"
Distance	43 light years 13 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +0.07 Absolute: -0.52
Spectral Class	G8III yellow giant
Optimum Visibility	December (Usually visible from northern latitudes)
Notes	A complex system of stars orbiting a pair of yellow giants, which appears in the skies of Earth as a brilliant point of light lying on the band of the Milky Way as it passes through Auriga.

A brilliant yellow star system, the sixth brightest in the entire sky, lying in the constellation of Auriga, the Charioteer.

A close view of Capella A, one of two yellow giants that dominate the extensive Capella system. This huge star and its companion lie at the heart of a swarm of eight or more lesser stars.

Capella is a complex system with two giant yellow stars at its heart, orbiting a common centre of gravity every 104 days. These two are not alone - they are accompanied by at least eight other stars

The Galactic position and direction of Capella relative to Earth's Sun. Note that, at this extreme scale, the two stars are effectively in the same place.

Capella, the brightest star in the constellation of Auriga.

Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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