Starwatch: Orion guides the way to Auriga, the charioteer

The brightest star in this ancient constellation is Capella, a yellow giant just 43 light years away

This week, use one of the most prominent winter constellations to find one of the fainter ones. The constellation we are searching for is Auriga, the charioteer. It is an ancient constellation, having been among the 48 listed by Ptolemy in the second century AD. The easiest way to find Auriga at this time of year from the northern hemisphere is to locate Orion, the hunter.