Lambda Aurigae is a Sun-like[ star in the northern constellation of Auriga.][ Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from λ Aurigae, and abbreviated Lambda Aur or λ Aur. This star is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.71.][ Based upon stellar parallax measurements, it is distant from the Earth.][ The star is drifting further away with a high radial velocity of +66.5 km/s,][ having come to within some 117,300 years ago.][ It has a high proper motion, traversing the celestial sphere at the rate of per year.][
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Properties
This is a G-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of G1 V.[ It is sometimes listed with a class of G1.5 IV-V Fe-1,][ which indicates the stellar spectrum is showing some features of a more evolved subgiant star along with a noticeable underabundance of iron. In terms of composition it is similar to the Sun, while the mass and radius are slightly larger.][ It is 73% more luminous than the Sun][ and radiates this energy from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of .][ At this heat, the star glows with the yellow hue of a G-type star.][ It has a low level of magnetic activity and is a candidate Maunder minimum analog.]
Lambda Aurigae has been examined for the presence of infrared excess emission that may indicate the presence of a circumstellar debris disk, but no significant surplus has been observed.[ It is a possible member of the Epsilon Indi Moving Group of stars that share a common motion through space. The space velocity components of this star are = .][
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Name
This star may have been called by the name Al Hurr, meaning the fawn in Arabic.[ Lambda Aurigae, along with Mu Aurigae and Sigma Aurigae, were Kazwini's Al Ḣibāʽ ( ألحباع), the Tent.][ According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, Al Ḣibāʽ were the title for three stars : λ Aur as Al Ḣibāʽ I, Mu Aurigae as Al Ḣibāʽ II and Sigma Aurigae as Al Ḣibāʽ III.][
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In Chinese, 咸池 (Xián Chí), meaning Pool of Harmony, refers to an asterism consisting of λ Aurigae, Rho Aurigae and HD 36041.[ 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, .] Consequently, the Chinese name for λ Aurigae itself is 咸池三 (Xián Chí sān, .)[ AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 13 日 ]
Observation
From Earth, Lambda Aurigae has an apparent magnitude of 4.71. The closest large neighboring star to Lambda Aurigae is Capella, located away.[
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[. See Table 10.]
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