Capella
Authors: IAU-WGSN Etymology Group, Susanne M Hoffmann, Youla Azkarrula, Ian Ridpath
| Asterism Info | |
| Native | Capella |
|---|---|
| Translation | the She-goat |
| Position (2000) | |
| Right ascension | 79.17232794 |
| Declination | 45.99799147 |
| Area | 0 sq. deg. |
| Stars | |
| Bright stars | 1 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars | 1 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 0 |
| Brightest star | Capella (0.08m) |
| Taxonomy | |
| category of asterism | IAU-Star Name |
| IAU- constellations | Aur |
Capella is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Latin. It is the name of HIP 24608 (α Aur, HR 1708) in constellation Aur.
Etymology and History
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).
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Constellations of a Goat (on Capella) and a Baboon (in Perseus) on the circular Zodiac of Dendera, Egypt (CC BY Musée du Louvre, Département des Antiquités égyptiennes) -
Constellation (or star name) of a Goat at Capella (with adjacent areas?) on the circular Zodiac of Dendera, Egypt (drawing by SMH for Stellarium 2026).
Mythology
IAU Working Group on Star Names
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/06/30.
Weblinks
- Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/
- Ian Ridpath's Star Tales – The she-goat and kids
Reference
- References (general)
- Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub.
