Capella

HR 1708 · HIP 24608 · α Aur

👁️ Naked-eye

📋 A written introduction is coming — for now this page shows official values only.

Star

Apparent magnitude: 0.08 mag
Parallax: 76.2 mas → about 42.8 light-years away
Spectral type: M1: comp
Right ascension: 79.1723°
Declination: 45.998°
Designation: HR 1708
Bayer designation: α Aur
HIP number: 24608
IAU name adopted: 2016-06-30
Name language: Latin
Name origin (IAU): Its ancient Roman name meaning "the She-goat" (but more commonly given, in antiquity, as Capra), after the star's Greek name αίξ, "the Goat". Reapplied in recent times. The Roman names Capella, Aselli (for γ/ δ Cnc), and others in the diminutive form (also in Greek), are likely meant to indicate an atypical use of words, as an animal's name given to a star instead of to the animal (rather than meaning "small" animals or personages).

Constellation

Light from this object takes about 43 years to reach Earth — the light you see tonight left around AD 1983 (official distance ÷ speed of light).
At magnitude 0.1 it is bright enough for the naked eye (limit about 6) — look from somewhere dark.
Declination 46° — it rises above the horizon in Seoul (37.6° N), so it is visible from Korea in the right season.