Star lore
Winter Hexagon
Direct answer
Winter Hexagon: The Winter Hexagon is a large asterism commonly traced through Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel, Sirius, Procyon, and Pollux, with Castor sometimes included.
The Winter Hexagon circles the northern winter sky through six exceptionally bright landmarks.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related
- Summer Triangle, Winter Triangle, Great Square of Pegasus, Teapot Asterism
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The story behind Winter Hexagon
Also called the Winter Circle, it is a modern teaching pattern rather than a formal constellation.
A one-minute story
The Road of the Sun
Where the twelve signs came from, and why they carry the names they do.
Why Winter Hexagon matters
Winter Hexagon provides a whole-sky framework connecting Auriga, Taurus, Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, and Gemini.
How to read Winter Hexagon
Start at Capella and move clockwise through Aldebaran, Rigel, Sirius, Procyon, and Pollux before returning north.
Winter Hexagon in practice: an example
Mars, Jupiter, the Moon, or other ecliptic objects can sometimes appear within the huge polygon.
Where readings of Winter Hexagon go wrong
Published diagrams vary over whether Castor accompanies Pollux and whether the figure is called a circle or hexagon.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- NASA Science: What Are Asterisms? - NASA explanation of familiar star patterns that are not official constellation regions.
- NASA Science: Skywatching FAQ - NASA guidance on naked-eye sky orientation, seasonal visibility, stars, and constellations.
- International Astronomical Union: The Constellations - Official names, abbreviations, and boundaries for the 88 modern constellations.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
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Common questions
What is the Winter Hexagon?
The Winter Hexagon is a large asterism commonly traced through Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel, Sirius, Procyon, and Pollux, with Castor sometimes included.
What do people get wrong about the Winter Hexagon?
Published diagrams vary over whether Castor accompanies Pollux and whether the figure is called a circle or hexagon.
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