The combined apparent visual magnitude of the system is 1.9,[5] making it the second-brightest member of the constellation after Capella.

Using the parallax measurements made during the Hipparcos mission, the distance to this star system can be estimated as 81.1 light-years (24.9 parsecs), give or take a half-light-year margin of error.

[1] Along their respective orbits around the Milky Way, Beta Aurigae and the Sun are closing in on each other, so that in around one million years it will become the brightest star in the night sky.

The traditional name Menkalinan is derived from the Arabic منكب ذي العنان mankib ðī-l-‘inān "shoulder of the rein-holder".

[19] The Beta Aurigae system is believed to be a stream member of the Ursa Major Moving Group.