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MENKALINAN (Beta Aurigae). Beautifully shaped Auriga, the Charioteer, rides high in northern winter skies, dominated by brilliant Capella at the northwestern corner of the prominent pentagon that makes the figure.
Menkalinan is actually a multiple star system. According to Burnham the A and B components are almost identical in size and spectrum and revolve with a period of 3.96 days. The orbit appears almost edge-on to the earth.
In fact, two stars in Auriga the Charioteer -- Menkalinan & Theta Aurigae -- are aligned north and south one one another. Going north through these two pointer stars escorts you right to Polaris, the North Star.
[716] beta Aurigae or Menkalinan ("shoulder of the rein-holder"), is a white subgiant triple star system. The two brighter components are A-type white subgiants and the third star is a red dwarf, visible only through a telescope.
Brightest Stars: Capella, Menkalinan.
Finding Auriga: To find Auriga, first locate Orion. Taurus is to the right (west) and just above these two, much higher in the sky, you will see Capella.
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Named stars: Alpha Aur (Capella/Alhajot), Beta Aur (Menkalinam)
Info:
Boötes (Bear Watcher/Ox Driver) ...
Elnath (El Nath, γ Aur = β Tau), Almaaz (ε Aur), Capella (Alhajoth, α Aur), Haedus I ( Sadatoni, ζ Aur), Haedus II (η Aur), Hassaleh (Kabdhilinan, ι Aur), Mahasim (θ Aur), Menkalinan (β Aur).
 See also: Star, Menkalinan, Auriga, Sun, Solar
  
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