Capella is the Latin word for nanny goat. And this bright star is also called the Goat Star. The point of light we see as Capella looks distinctly golden. And Capella shares a spectral type – type G – with our sun. In fact, Capella is the biggest and brightest yellow star in our sky.

Over the next week skywatchers can expect to see a brilliant star that sparkles with a golden yellow or topaz hue that is situated about one-third of the way up from the eastern horizon as darkness falls. This is Arcturus, in the constellation of Boötes, the Herdsman.