Winter Circle

The Winter Circle (or Octagon) is composed of the eight brightest stars in the Northern hemispere's winter sky. This is a very large asterism extending over 60 degrees across the sky. The stars in the Winter Octagon are (in clockwise order) Capella, Menkalinan, Castor, Pollux, Procyan, Sirius, and Rigel, and Aldebaran.

In the Southern hemisphere, these stars are most prominent during summer months - so perhaps this asterism should be called the "Summer Circle" for observers "down under"!