Taurus Constellation on Top Astronomer Taurus Please hover over any star to get more information Taurus is a constellation in the northern hemisphere. Its name means "bull" in Latin. It is one of the constellations of the zodiac, listed by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. The constellation Taurus is believed to have been identified with the bull since Chalcolithic times, and possibly even depicted at the Lascaux caves, along with the Pleiades cluster, around the year 15,000 BC. Babylonian astronomers called the constellation the Heavenly Bull. Ancient Egyptians believed that it represented a sacred bull, one associated with the renewal of nature in spring. In Greek mythology, Taurus is associated with Zeus, who once disguised himself as a bull to abduct Europa, the daughter of King Agenor of Phoenicia. He carried her from Tyre across the sea to Crete. Their children included King Minos, famous for building the palace at Knossos. The constellation Taurus occupies an area of 797 square degrees and contains three stars with known planets.

It can be seen at latitudes between +90° and -65° and is best visible at 9 p.m. during the month of January. In tropical astrology, the Sun is said to be in Taurus between April 20 and May 21, while in sidereal astrology it passes through the sign from May 16 to June 15. The brightest star in the constellation is [7931] alpha Tauri, or Aldebaran ("the follower"). Aldebaran is an orange-red giant, an irregular variable star, about 65 light-years distant. It is also sometimes called the Bull's Eye because it lies in the head of Taurus. It is the 13th brightest star in the sky. It was named Aldebaran because it appears to follow the Pleiades cluster across the sky. The Chinese know Aldebaran as the Fifth Star of the Net, while the Inuit call it the Spirit of the Polar Bear. The Seris people in Mexico believe that it provides light for seven women giving birth, represented by the Pleiades.

The Dakotas saw the Pleiades as a white buffalo, chased by a hero (Aldebaran) across the sky. [7932] beta Tauri, the second brightest star, lies near the border with the constellation Auriga. It is sometimes called El Nath or Alnath ("the bull’s horns"). El Nath is a B class star evolving into a giant. It lies about 131 light-years from Earth. [7933] eta Tauri or Alcyone is the brightest of the Pleiades and the third brightest star in Taurus. It is a multiple star system with a blue-white giant for a primary component. Alcyone has an apparent magnitude of 2.85 and is approximately 440 light-years distant. The Pleiades, also known as Messier 45 or the Seven Sisters, are a group of stars that form a young open cluster in Taurus. The Pleiades cluster is composed mostly of hot, blue, extremely luminous stars. It is the easiest cluster to find without the aid of binoculars. Lying about 440 light-years away, it is one of the nearest star clusters to Earth.

It contains more than a thousand stars. The brightest nine are named after the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters in Greek mythology, and their parents, the titan Atlas and the sea-nymph Pleione. In the myth, Atlas was one of the titans who fought against Zeus and other Olympian gods and, once the titans were defeated, he was forced to carry the heavens on his shoulders as punishment. With Atlas out of the way, the hunter Orion started pursuing his daughters and Zeus turned them into stars to prevent Orion from catching them. The celestial Orion still follows the Pleiades across the sky.

The main stars in the Pleiades cluster are [7933] Alcyone (eta Tauri), [7939] Atlas (27 Tauri), [7941] Electra (17 Tauri), [7945] Maia (20 Tauri), [7948] Merope (23 Tauri), [7957] Taygeta (19 Tauri), [7983] Pleione (28 Tauri), [8010] Celaeno (16 Tauri) and [8045] Asterope (21 and 22 Tauri). [7939] Atlas is a multiple star system with a blue-white giant for a primary star. [7941] Electra is another blue-white giant. [7945] Maia is a blue giant classified as a mercury-manganese star. [7948] Merope is a blue-white subgiant classified as a Beta Cephei variable.

[7957] Taygeta is another multiple system with a blue-white subgiant for the main component. [7983] Pleione is a blue-white dwarf classified as a Gamma Cassiopeiae type variable star. [8010] Celaeno is a blue-white subgiant, sometimes known as the Lost Pleiad because it cannot be easily distinguished from its brighter neighbour, [7939] Atlas. [8045] Asterope (Sterope) is a binary star with a blue-white dwarf for the brighter component. There are several other notable stars in Taurus. [7934] zeta Tauri is a binary star 417 light-years distant. The primary component is an extremely luminous, hot, blue-white giant classified as a Gamma Cassiopeiae type variable. It has luminosity 5,700 times that of the Sun. [7944] - [7935] theta Tauri is a star system, approximately 155 light-years distant, dominated by two bright, third magnitude giants, one orange and the other white.

[7936] lambda Tauri, or Elthor ("the bull") is a triple star system 370 light-years from Earth. The primary star is a blue-white dwarf and the companion is a white subgiant. [7937] epsilon Tauri, also known as Ain ("eye") and Oculus Borealis ("northern eye"), is an orange giant, 147 light-years distant. It belongs to the Hyades cluster, the nearest open cluster to the solar system, lying only 151 light-years away. The Hyades cluster contains between 300 and 400 stars. The brightest ones form the shape of the letter V, which appears along the same line of sight as [7931] Aldebaran, a star that is not a member of the cluster. [7940] gamma Tauri, or Hyadum I ("first Hyad") is another member of the Hyades cluster. It is a G class giant, 154 light-years distant. Taurus contains the Crab Nebula (NGC 1952), the first Messier object ever to be listed.

It is a pulsar wind nebula, which means that it is powered by the wind of a pulsar, found inside the shell of a supernova remnant. The Crab Pulsar, a rotating neutron star that emits gamma rays and radio waves, lies at the core of nebula. The Crab Nebula is approximately 6,500 light-years distant and expanding at the rate of 1,500 kilometres per second. Taurus also contains several fainter open star clusters, designated NGC 1746, NGC 1647, NGC 1817 and NGC 1807, and the variable reflection nebula NGC 1555, located near the star T Tauri (HD 284419). Taurus Constellation: Facts About the Bull Taurus Constellation: Facts About the Bull By Kim Ann Zimmermann | August 14, 2012 12:30pm ET MORE Taurus the Bull is hard to miss as he charges through the northern winter sky as it is one of the most prominent and visible of all of the constellations.

The Bull is also one of the oldest documented constellations , with details of the constellation going as far back as the Early Bronze Age. Locating Taurus the Bull The Bull passes through the sky from November to March, but is at its most visible in January. It covers 797 square degrees. Right Ascension: 4 hours Declination: 15 degrees Best visible between latitudes 90 degrees and minus 65 degrees Constellations ancient and modern grace the skies year round. Let's see what you know about the star patterns that appear overhead every night. 0 of 10 questions complete Constellation Quiz: What's Your Cosmic IQ? Constellations ancient and modern grace the skies year round. Let's see what you know about the star patterns that appear overhead every night. 0 of Start Over | More Quizzes Bulls' eye The red giant star Aldebaran (65 light-years), the brightest star in the constellation and the 14th brightest star in the sky, is known as Taurus’ Eye. It is the brightest object in the V-shaped asterism known as Hyades that makes up the bull’s face.

The orange-hued star is often described as fiery or bloodshot and glaring at Orion the Hunter , which lies just to its southwest. The Pleiades star cluster as seen from midnorthern latitudes on the evening of April 1, 2006. In addition to Aldebaran, the constellation’s other major star cluster is the Pleiades , which is a cluster of seven stars that rest on the bull’s shoulder. It is said these stars represent the Seven Sisters, daughters of daughters of Atlas and Pleione. Aldebaran and the Pleiades are visible to the naked eye and are two of the sky’s brightest objects. In the northwest part of Taurus is the supernova remnant Messier 1, commonly referred to as the Crab Nebula , which is located above the tip of the bull’s bottom horn. Mythology When Zeus fell in love with the Phoenician princess Europa, he transformed himself into a white bull with golden horns to whisk her away to Crete. While Taurus is prominent in Greek mythology, he also plays a role in the mythologies of Ancient Babylon and Egypt.

Taurus, located between the constellations Aries and Gemini, plays a key role in astrology, which is not a science . Taurus is the second sign in the Zodiac and represents those born between April 20 and May 20. The traits of those born under the sign includepracticality and stubborness. — Kim Ann Zimmermann Taurus Constellation - Facts About Taurus | Solarsystemquick.com Taurus Constellation The object near the horns of Taurus is M1, otherwise known as the Crab Nebula. Taurus Constellation Facts Taurus is visible in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. In the Northern hemisphere the constellation can be seen through the autumn and winter months. In the Southern hemisphere Taurus can be seen from late spring and throughout the summer, note that it will appear upside down. Taurus is one of the largest constellations in the night sky. Cave paintings suggest that stone age man recognized the constellation as a bull over 10,000 years ago. The red giant Aldebaran is the brightest star in the constellation, it is over 500 times as luminous as the sun. In Latin taurus means bull.

The Crab Nebula and the Pleiades star cluster are located within the boundaries of the constellation. The Taurids meteor shower is named after Taurus as they appear to emanate from the direction of the constellation around mid autumn. Taurus is an ancient constellation based on 3,000 year old Babylonian observations of the night sky. Taurus Mythology The constellation is associated with the bull and is one of the twelve signs of the zodiac. The constellation of Taurus is associated with Greek mythology. As with many Greek myths it revolves around the amorous attentions of the King of Gods Zeus. This time the focus of his affection was on the beautiful Europa, daughter of King Agenor. In order to woo his victims Zeus would often turn to disguise and this story is no different. This time he would disguise himself as a beautiful bull and place himself amongst King Agenor’s herd. One day Europa spotted the bull and became mesmerized by its beauty, she approached it and climbed on its back. The bull headed towards the beach but then surprised Europa by leaping into the sea and taking her to the island of Crete. Once there the bull revealed himself as Zeus and proclaimed that she would become his mistress.

Europa would eventually have three sons by Zeus, he would later commemorate his conquest by placing the bull in the night sky. Main Stars and Objects in the Taurus Constellation The number next to each star is its apparent magnitude, its brightness from our point of view on Earth, the lower the number the brighter the star in the night sky. Aldebaran Also known as Alpha Tauri, Aldebaran is around 65 light years from Earth and is the brightest star in the constellation, it's a red giant star with around 45 times the diameter of our sun. Elnath Also known as Beta Tauri, as the star lies on the border of Taurus and Auriga it is sometimes referred to as Gamma Aurigae, Elnath is a blue giant star around 130 light years from Earth. Crab Nebula The Crab Nebula otherwise known as M1 is the result of a massive supernova explosion that was witnessed by far eastern astronomers in the 11th century, nebulae which are born in this violent fashion are known as supernova remnants.

The Crab Nebula is vast, perhaps around 10 light years across and lies around 6,000 light years from Earth. Pleiades Also known as M45 or Seven Sisters, the Pleiades is a star cluster that can be viewed with the naked eye. The cluster is made up of young and extremely bright stars that began forming around 100 million years ago. At a distance of around 400 light years away it is one of the closest star clusters to Earth, the Pleiades contains hundreds of stars and is more than 10 light years across. Finding Taurus - Northern Hemisphere The chart shows the position of Taurus over most of the United States in mid-winter at 6 pm. This chart can also be applied to other areas of the Northern hemisphere such as Canada, the UK and Europe.

Taurus rises in the east and sets in the west, from October to November the constellation will appear low in the eastern night sky around 10 pm and continue westward until day breaks around 6 to 7 am, in December to January it will first appear in the north-eastern sky around 6 pm before dipping below the horizon in the north-west around 4 to 6 am, from February to March Taurus will first appear almost overhead around 7 pm before disappearing below the horizon between midnight and 2 am. Finding Taurus - Southern Hemisphere The chart shows the position of Taurus over most of Australia in mid summer at 10 pm. This chart can also be applied to other areas of the Southern hemisphere such as New Zealand, South Africa and South America.

In the Southern hemisphere Taurus rises in the north-east and sets in the north-west, in December and January the constellation will first appear low on the horizon in the north east around 10 pm and continue westwards before dipping below the horizon around 6 am, from February to March it will appear in a more northerly or north-westerly direction as night falls between 9 and 10 pm and disappear below the horizon between 1 am and 2 am. Share this page Taurus Constellation: Myth, Facts, Stars, Map, Pictures, Deep Sky Objects | Constellation Guide Constellation Guide Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky Taurus Constellation Taurus constellation lies in the northern sky. Its name means “bull” in Latin. The constellation is symbolized by the bull’s head, ♉. Taurus is one of the 12 constellations of the zodiac , first catalogued by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. The constellation’s history, however, dates back to the Bronze Age. Taurus is a large constellation and one of the oldest ones known.

In Greek mythology, the constellation is associated with Zeus, who transformed himself into a bull in order to get close to Europa and abduct her. Taurus is known for its bright stars Aldebaran , El Nath, and Alcyone, as well as for the variable star T Tauri. The constellation is probably best known for the Pleiades (Messier 45) , also known as the Seven Sisters , and the Hyades , which are the two nearest open star clusters to Earth. Taurus also has a number of famous deep sky objects, among them the supernova remnant Messier 1 (the Crab Nebula ), Hind’s Variable Nebula (NGC 1555), the colliding galaxies NGC 1410 and NGC 1409, the Crystal Ball Nebula (NGC 1514), and the Merope Nebula (NGC 1435). FACTS, LOCATION & MAP Taurus Constellation Map, by IAU and Sky&Telescope magazine Taurus is the 17th largest constellation in the sky, occupying an area of 797 square degrees.

It is located in the first quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ1) and can be seen at latitudes between +90° and -65°. The neighboring constellations are Aries , Auriga , Cetus , Eridanus , Gemini , Orion and Perseus . Taurus contains two Messier objects – Messier 1 (M1, NGC 1952, Crab Nebula) and Messier 45 (the Pleiades) – and has five stars that may have planets in their orbits. The brightest star in the constellation is Aldebaran , Alpha Tauri, with an apparent visual magnitude of 0.85. Aldebaran is also the 13th brightest star in the sky. There are two meteor showers associated with the constellation; the Taurids and the Beta Taurids. The Taurids peak in November and the Beta Taurids in June and July. Taurus belongs to the Zodiac family of constellations, along with Aries , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpius , Sagittarius , Capricornus and Pisces .

MYTH Taurus constellation has been known since at least the Early Bronze Age, when it marked the Sun’s location during the spring equinox. It has been associated with the bull in many cultures and mythologies: Greek and Egyptian among other, and even going back to Ancient Babylon. Depictions of Taurus and the Pleiades star cluster have even been found in a cave painting at Lascaux, dating back to 15,000 BC. Both the constellation and the Pleiades have been known in many indigenous cultures and referred to as the bull and the seven sisters, which indicates a common origin for the names. In Greek mythology, Taurus is usually associated with Zeus, who adopted the shape of a bull in order to seduce and abduct Europa, the beautiful daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor. Zeus mingled with the king’s herd and, being the most handsome bull there, he got Europa’s attention. When she sat on his back, he rose and headed for the sea. Zeus carried Europa all the way to Crete, where he revealed himself and lavished the princess with presents.

The two had three sons together, including Minos, who grew up to be the famous king of Crete, who built the palace at Knossos where bull games were held and who also sacrificed seven young boys and girls to the Minotaur each year. Zeus later commemorated the bull by placing it among the stars. Constellations Orion and Taurus, image: Dumbbell at wikipedia.org An alternative interpretation associates Taurus with the nymph Io, whose line Europa was descended from, who was also seduced by Zeus and then transformed into a heifer when the two were nearly caught by Hera. Babylonian astronomers called the constellation MUL.APIN, or “The Heavenly Bull.” In the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest literary works from Mesopotamia, Gilgamesh faces the Bull of Heaven sent by the goddess Ishtar to kill the hero after he had rejected her advances. Gilgamesh is sometimes associated with the nearby Orion , another ancient constellation, and the two constellations are depicted as Gilgamesh and the bull in combat.

MAJOR STARS IN TAURUS Aldebaran – α Tauri (Alpha Tauri) Aldebaran , Alpha Tauri, is an orange giant with an apparent visual magnitude varying between 0.75 and 0.95. It is the brightest star in the constellation Taurus and the 13th brightest star in the sky. Using Orion to find Aldebaran , Procyon, Sirius , Castor and Pollux. Image: Mysid at wikipedia.org Alpha Tauri has the stellar classification K5III. It has a diameter 44.2 times that of the Sun and is about 425 times more luminous. The star lies approximately 65.1 light years from Earth. It is classified as a slow irregular variable, type LB. Its brightness varies by about 0.2 magnitudes. Alpha Tauri’s traditional name, Aldebaran, comes from the Arabic al-dabarān, which means “the follower.” The star got this name because it appears to follow the Pleiades cluster, the Seven Sisters , across the sky.

Aldebaran is pretty easy to find in the sky as it lies in the vicinity of Orion constellation , and the three bright stars that form Orion’s Belt point in its direction. Aldebaran also makes it easy to find the famous Hyades cluster , as it appears to be the brightest star in it. It is, however, not a member of the cluster, but merely lies in the same line of sight. The Hyades cluster is much farther away, about 150 light years from Earth. Aldebaran lies pretty close to the ecliptic and can be occulted by the Moon. Elnath – β Tauri (Beta Tauri) Elnath is the second brightest star in Taurus. It has a visual magnitude of 1.68 and is approximately 131 light years distant. Elnath is a giant star with the stellar classification B7III. It is 700 times more luminous than the Sun. Like Aldebaran, it lies near the ecliptic and can be occulted by the Moon.

The star’s proper name, Elnath, Alnath, or El Nath, is derived from the Arabic word an-naţħ, which means “the butting,” referring to the bull’s horns. Elnath lies on the border with the constellation Auriga, the Charioteer , and has the Bayer designation Gamma Aurigae, which is not used very often anymore. ζ Tauri (Zeta Tauri) Zeta Tauri is a spectroscopic binary star with the stellar classification B2 IIIpe. It has a visual magnitude of 3.010 and is approximately 440 light years distant. The two components have an orbital period of roughly 133 days. The primary component in the system is a rapid rotator, with a projected rotational velocity of 125 km/s. It has a circumstellar disk of gas. It has 11 solar masses and 5-6 times the Sun’s radius. The companion star is slightly less massive than the Sun. θ Tauri (Theta Tauri) Theta Tauri is another binary star in Taurus. It is one of the stars in the Hyades cluster.

The two components in the system are separated by 5.62 arc minutes. The primary star is 154.4 light years distant from the solar system and the secondary is 150.4 light years away. Theta-1 Tauri is an orange, class K giant (stellar classification K0 IIIb Fe-0.5) and the dimmer of the two components. It has a visual magnitude of 3.84. Theta-2 Tauri is a white giant belonging to the spectral class A7 III with a mean apparent magnitude of 3.40. It is a Delta Scuti variable, with variations in brightness ranging from magnitude 3.35 to 3.42 over a period of 1.82 hours. Pectus Tauri – λ Tauri (Lambda Tauri) Lambda Tauri is a triple star in Taurus constellation. Its Latin name is Pectus Tauri, which means “the bull’s chest.” The system has a visual magnitude of 3.47 and is approximately 480 light years distant.

The main component of Lambda Tauri is an inner pair of stars, designated Lambda Tauri AB, which orbit each other every 3.95 days and form an eclipsing binary star system similar to that of Algol in the constellation Perseus . The stars’ combined apparent magnitude varies from 3.37 to 3.91. The primary component belongs to the spectral class B3 V. It has more than seven solar masses, 6.4 times the solar radius, and is about 5,801 times more luminous than the Sun. The star is a rapid rotator, with a projected rotational velocity of 85 km/s. The secondary star is a subgiant of the spectral type A4 IV, about 1.9 times more massive and 128 times more luminous than the Sun. It is another fast rotator, with a velocity of 76 km/s. The third component in the system is about half as massive as the Sun and orbits the inner pair with a period of 33.025 days.

Ain (Oculus Borealis) – ε Tauri (Epsilon Tauri) Epsilon Tauri is an orange giant with the stellar classification K0 III. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 3.53 and is approximately 147 light years distant. It is located near the ecliptic and can occasionally be occulted by the Moon and, rarely, by planets. Epsilon Tauri has an 11th magnitude companion located 182 arc seconds from the primary. The star has the proper names Ain and Oculus Borealis, both of which mean “the eye.” Epsilon Tauri is a member of the Hyades cluster . Its age is estimated to be about 625 million years. A large extrasolar planet was discovered in the star’s orbit in 2007. It orbits the star every 1.6 years. It was the first planet discovered in an open cluster and it is still the only known planet in the Hyades cluster . Hyadum I – γ Tauri (Gamma Tauri) Gamma Tauri is another member of the Hyades cluster.

It is a giant star belonging to the spectral class G8III, approximately 154 light years distant from the Sun. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 3.654. The star’s estimated age is somewhere between 430 and 530 million years. Gamma Tauri has 13.4 times the solar radius and is 85 times more luminous than the Sun. The star’s traditional name, Hyadum I, means the “First Hyad” in Latin. Hyadum I lies within 2.5 parsecs of the centre of the Hyades open cluster . Ushakaron – ξ Tauri (Xi Tauri) Xi Tauri is a triple star consisting of three blue-white main sequence dwarfs of the spectral type B. It is a spectroscopic and eclipsing star system. Two of the three stars are in a close orbit, and they revolve around each other once every 7.15 days. The pair orbits the third star in the system every 145 days.

Xi Tauri has a mean apparent visual magnitude of 3.73, with variations ranging from magnitude 3.70 to 3.79. The system is about 222 light years distant from the Sun. δ Tauri (Delta Tauri) Delta Tauri consists of three star systems, all of which are located in the Hyades cluster. All the stars in the Delta Tauri system lie close to the ecliptic and can be eclipsed by the Moon and very rarely by planets. Delta-1 Tauri, also known as Eudora or Hyadum II (the Second Hyad), is a triple star system with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 3.77. It is approximately 153 light years distant from the Sun. The primary component in the system is an orange giant with the stellar classification K0 III. It is 74 times brighter than the Sun and has 11.6 times the Sun’s radius. The companion is a 12th magnitude star located 107 arc seconds from the primary and believed to not be physically related to it. It orbits the primary star with a period of 530 days.

Delta-2 Tauri is a main sequence dwarf with the stellar classification A7V. It has a visual magnitude of 4.80 and is approximately 146 light years distant. It lies 0.23° away from Delta-1 Tauri. Delta-3 Tauri, also known as Kleeia (it was after one of the Hyades sisters), is another triple star system, lying 0.72° from Delta-1 Tauri. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 4.30 and is approximately 148 light years distant from the solar system. The primary component in the system is a white subgiant star of the spectral type A2IV. The star is an Alpha-2 Canum Venaticorum type variable, showing variations in brightness from magnitude 4.29 to 4.32 every 57.25 days. The star has two companions, and they are 8th and 11th magnitude stars. Kappa Tauri Kappa Tauri is another star system in the Hyades cluster. It is approximately 148 light years distant from the Sun.

The brightest components form a visual binary consisting of two class A stars, a subgiant with a visual magnitude of 4.21 and a dwarf with a magnitude of 5.27. The two are 5.8 arc minutes apart. Another binary consisting of two 9th magnitude stars lies between the two bright stars. The stars are 5.3 arc seconds apart from each other and 183 arc seconds away from the brightest component. The Kappa Tauri system has two more companions, both of which are 12th magnitude stars. υ Tauri (Upsilon Tauri) Upsilon Tauri is another triple star in Taurus. It belongs to the Hyades cluster. The system has an apparent visual magnitude of 4.28 and is approximately 155 light years distant. The primary component in the system is a main sequence dwarf of the spectral type A. The star is a Delta Scuti type variable, exhibiting variations in brightness from magnitude 4.28 to 4.31 every 3.56 hours. It is a spectroscopic binary star, with components separated by 0.02 arc seconds.

The third component in the system is a 12th magnitude star separated by 110 arc seconds from the main pair. 119 Tauri 119 Tauri is one of the largest stars known. It has a diameter 600 times that of the Sun. It is also one of the reddest stars known, with a colour index of 2.07. The star is a red supergiant with the stellar classification M2Iab-Ib. It has a mean apparent visual magnitude of 4.32 and is approximately 1,802 light years distant from Earth. 119 Tauri is a semiregular variable, with variations in brightness ranging from magnitude 4.23 to 4-54 over a period of 165 days. It lies near the ecliptic and can be occulted by the Moon and very infrequently by planets. ρ Tauri (Rho Tauri) Rho Tauri is a white main sequence star belonging to the spectral class A8V. It has 1.88 solar masses and is one of the stars in the Hyades cluster .

It has a visual magnitude of 4.65 and is approximately 152 light years distant. The star is a fast rotator, with a projected rotational velocity of 117 km/s. It has an estimated rotation period of 488.5 days. Rho Tauri is a Delta Scuti type variable star, exhibiting variations in brightness by 0.01 magnitudes every 1.61 hours. 111 Tauri 111 Tauri is a double star in Taurus. The primary component in the system is a main sequence star of the spectral type F8 V and the secondary component is a main sequence star belonging to the spectral class K5 V. The 111 Tauri system has a combined apparent magnitude of 5.1149 and is 46.9 light years distant from Earth. The star is a known X-ray source. ο Tauri (Omicron Tauri) Omicron Tauri is a giant star with the stellar classification G6 III Fe-1. It is really a binary star with an orbital period of 1,655 days.

The system has an apparent visual magnitude of 3.61 and is approximately 212 light years distant from Earth. Omicron Tauri is rotating once every 533 days. It has 18 times the solar radius and three times the mass. It is about 155 times more luminous than the Sun. The famous young variable stellar object T Tauri, prototype to the class of pre-main-sequence objects which bears its name. T Tauri is actually a 0´´.6-separation binary star, unresolved in this image. (The objects very near the star just east of north and just west of south are filter glint artifacts, not infrared companions of T Tau.) The nebula to the west (NGC 1555) is reflected light from T Tauri. Atlas Image mosaic obtained as part of the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), a joint project of the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation.

T Tauri T Tauri is a variable star that serves as a prototype for a class of stars known as the T Tauri variables. The star was discovered by the English astronomer John Russell Hind in October 1852. It can be found near Epsilon Tauri, a member of the Hyades cluster, but is located some 420 light years behind it. T Tauri variables are pre-main sequence stars with less than two solar masses and belonging to the spectral classes F, G, K and M. They are much more luminous than main sequence stars that have the same mass because T Tauri stars have larger radii. They are usually located near molecular clouds and exhibit optical variability as well as strong chromospheric lines. T Tauri itself is a star system consisting of at least three stars. Only one of them can be seen at optical wavelengths, while the other two are visible in the infrared. One of the stars is a source of radio waves. The T Tauri system is located near the reflection nebula NGC 1555 and illuminates it, causing the nebula to also exhibit variations in brightness.

T Tauri has an apparent visual magnitude of 10.27 and is approximately 600 light years distant from Earth. RV Tauri RV Tauri is a yellow supergiant with the stellar classification G2eIA-M2Ia. Like T Tauri, it is a prototype for its own class of variables. Its brightness varies from magnitude 9.5 to 13.5 over a period of 78.5 days. With the change in luminosity, the star also changes spectral type. When it is at its brightest, it is class G2 and at its dimmest, it is class M2. The star has a circumstellar disk. RV Tauri is a pulsating variable nearing the final stages of its life. It will soon expel its outer layers to become a planetary nebula and contract into a white dwarf. It is believed to be approximately 7,100 light years distant. The star’s variability was discovered by the Russian astronomer Lydia Ceraski in 1905. HD 37124 HD 37124 is a yellow dwarf of the spectral type G4V.

It has an apparent visual magnitude of 7.68 and is about 110 light years distant. Three extrasolar planets were confirmed to be orbiting the star in 2005. None of the planets are hot Jupiters and they are all either within or near the star’s habitable zone. The Pleiades – brightest stars: Transit Date of principal star: 30 November Is Taurus attacking Orion, the Hunter, or are the Horns of the Bull the real story? The horn was a symbol of fertility and bountiful riches in many cultures for thousands of years, and it is probably the case here, for the constellation would have announced the Vernal Equinox at around 4000 BC. The constellation Taurus may also allude to the Greek story of Europa and the Bull. Europa was daughter of King Agenor. One fine spring day, accompanied by her hand maidens, Princess Europa went to the seashore to gather flowers. Zeus, who had fallen in love with Europa, seized the opportunity. Zeus transformed himself into a magnificent white bull, and as such he joined King Agenor's grazing herd.

Europa noticed the wonderful white beast, who gazed at them all with such a mild manner that they were not frightened. Europa wove wreathes of flowers for the beast, and wrapped them around his horns. She led him around the meadow, and he was as docile as a lamb. Then, as he trotted down to the seashore, she jumped onto his shoulders. Suddenly, to her surprise and fright, he plunged into the sea and carried the princess to Crete. As they reached the Cretan shore, Zeus then turned into an eagle and ravaged Europa. She bore three sons, the first of which was Minos. Minos is said to have introduced the bull cult to the Cretans. He had Daedalus build a labyrinth in the depths of his palace at Knossus, which became the home of the Minotaur (offspring of Mino's wife Pasiphae, and a bull). Seven young men and seven maidens were ritually sacrificed to the Minotaur until Theseus killed it. Minos, in fact, was the title of the ancient rulers of Crete, and the story probably tells of their mythic origin.

The constellation shows mainly the horns, and exceedingly long horns they are. The left (southern) horn starts from the group of stars known as The Hyades, of which Aldebaran seems (erroneously) to be a member. It extends from Aldebaran to zeta Tauri, near the eastern edge of the constellation. The right horn lifts up just west of the Hyades, from delta Tauri through tau Tauri and finally to its tip at beta Tauri (El Nath: remember this star as part of Auriga?) The rest of the bull is rather disappointing; a slight body and two spindly legs. It may be that the bull is half-emerged in water, as it carries Europa across to Crete. The stars of Taurus: Taurus' eye is bright and piercing. This is Aldebaran (alpha Tauri), an orange giant about 40 times the size of the Sun. Aldebaran is an old star. For billions of years it has burned its supply of hydrogen until there is little left. Its future won't be as a spectacular explosion of a supernova but rather a gradual dimming into a white dwarf.

Following the lower horn out to its tip we find zeta Tauri. This is a shell star. Shell stars are main-sequence stars which rotate rapidly, causing a loss of matter to an ever-expanding shell. Most of the interesting features of Taurus are found in the centre of the constellation and toward the west. Around Aldebaran are a number of stars which go by the collective name of The Hyades (see below). Aldebaran is not a member of this group. Not only is it closer to us, but its proper motion is at a different angle. Aldebaran is moving at an angle of 161 degrees, the stars of the Hyades at around 102-109 degrees. Double stars in Taurus [NOTE: See the Binocular Section link, at the bottom of this page, for updated values.] Taurus has an abundant selection of binary stars, including many Struve binaries that we haven't mentioned. Below is a very small selection of some of the easier doubles to resolve. Theta2 and theta1 form a fixed binary of wide separation, theta2 just below and to the east.

Note that theta2 is the primary: 3.4, 3.8; PA 346� and separation 337". Kappa1 and kappa1 form an easily resolved binary: 4.2, 5.3; PA 328�, separation 5.3". Sigma2 and sigma1 is another wide fixed binary. And again, sigma2 is the primary: 4.8, 5.2; PA 193� and separation 431". 80 Tauri is a difficult visual binary with an orbit of 189.5 years: 5.5, 8.0; current PA 17� and separation of 1.8" (very nearly its maximum separation). Struve 422 is a wide visual binary with an orbit of over 2000 years: 5.9, 8.8; PA 269�, 6.7". It's located at 9� SW of nu Tauri, just north of the brighter 10 Tauri.

Variable Stars in Taurus: Many of the more notable variable stars in Taurus are of a type not noticed by casual observation, such as alpha Taurus, which is classified as an Lb type variable. These are irregular giants whose variation can only be detected by means of photoelectric photometry. Alpha Taurus only changes in visual magnitude by 0.2, from 0.75 to 0.95, and the period is irregular. BU Tauri (Pleione) is a gammaCas type variable, from 4.77 to 5.50. GammaCas variables are also characterised by an irregular period, which may sometimes be very rapid. These are B stars, quite young, and rotate very rapidly. This rotation results in the throwing off of material, which then forms a shell around the star. The cause of its variation is still not understood. Zeta Tauri is also a gammaCas type variable, with a variation from 2.88 down to 3.17 roughly every 133 days. Lambda Tauri, in the Hyades cluster, is a good example of an eclipsing variable.

The variability is caused by the partial eclipse of the primary by its companion, dimming the 3.3 visual magnitude down to 3.8 every 3.95 days. R Tauri is a Mira-type variable with a 320.9 day period. Usually at 7.6, it drops to a very dim 15.8 once a year. In 2000 the maximum should occur in the first week of May. Deep Sky Objects in Taurus: Taurus contains two well known Messier objects: the Crab Nebula and the Pleiades. Besides these two there is the `other' cluster, known as The Hyades, and the curious "Hind's Variable Nebula". Just northwest of zeta Tauri is the first of Messier's objects: M1, the Crab Nebula. Early observers thought the object to be a star cluster, something like a dimmer version of the Great Orion Nebula. Messier was so intrigued by it, on the night of 12 September, 1758, that he began his catalogue - the purpose of which was to keep observers from mistaking such objects for comets.

It takes a rather large telescope to see any of the filamentary features of the nebula; most viewers come away disappointed. The Crab Nebula is a remnant of a supernova, whose explosion occurred (or rather, was visibly recorded) in July of 1054. Chinese and Japanese astronomers witnessed the event. In fact, it would have been difficult not to notice, for the night sky would have been lit up by a star with the visual magnitude of about -5, bright enough to be seen even in the daytime for nearly a month. The star that exploded, producing the nebula, is now an optical pulsar. Even now, nearly a thousand years later, the nebula is hurtling through space at roughly a thousand kilometers per second. And it continues to grow; the nebula is now over thirteen light years in diameter (four parsecs) according to the Facts On File Dictionary of Astronomy. Aldebaran is the Bull's fiery eye | Brightest Stars | EarthSky History and mythology of Aldebaran. Science of star Aldebaran. This star glows with the orangish color of a K5 giant star.

In visible light, it is about 153 times brighter than the sun, although its surface temperature is lower (roughly 4000 kelvins compared to 5800 kelvins for the sun). Aldebaran is about 65 light-years away, much closer than the stars of the Hyades with which it misleadingly seems associated. The Hyades are about 150 light-years away. Aldebaran is an erratic variable with minor variations too small to be noticed by the eye. It also has a small, faint companion star, an M-type red dwarf, some 3.5 light-days away. In other words, light from Aldebaran would need to travel for 3.5 days to reach the companion, in contrast to light from our sun, which requires 8 minutes to travel to Earth. The three medium-bright stars of Orion’s Belt point to reddish Aldebaran. Image via SolarEmpireUK How to see Aldebaran. Aldebaran is easy to find. Frequently imagined as the fiery eye of Taurus the Bull, Aldebaran is part of a V-shaped star grouping that forms the face of the Bull.

This pattern is called the Hyades. You can also locate Aldebaran using the famous constellation Orion as a guide. Simply locate the three stars of Orion’s Belt. Then draw an imaginary line through the belt to the right. The first bright star you come to will be Aldebaran with its distinctive reddish-orange glow. Aldebaran is the 14th brightest star, but five of those that outshine it are only barely visible or not visible at all from much of the Northern Hemisphere. Aldebaran is primarily a winter and spring star. At least, that is when this red star is most easily visible in the evening sky. By early December, it rises shortly after sunset and is visible all night. Three months later it is high to the south at sunset, and sets at around midnight. By early May, it hangs low about the western sunset glow – and before the end of the month, it’s lost altogether. It returns to the predawn sky around late June. By the way, although it appears among them, Aldebaran is not actually a member of the V-shaped Hyades cluster. It is actually much closer to us in space than the actual Hyades stars. Constellation Taurus.

See Aldebaran marked as the Bull’s Eye? View larger. History and mythology of Aldebaran. Aldebaran is often depicted as the fiery eye of Taurus the Bull. Because it is bright and prominent, Aldebaran was honored as one of the Four Royal Stars in ancient Persia, the other three Royal Stars being Regulus, Antares and Fomalhaut. The name Aldebaran is from the Arabic for “The Follower,” presumably as a hunter following prey, which here likely was the star cluster we call the Pleiades. The latter was often viewed as a flock of birds, perhaps doves. According to Richard Hinckley Allen in his classic book Star Names, the name Aldebaran once was applied to the entire Hyades star cluster, a large loose collection of faint stars. In Hindu myth, Aldebaran was sometimes identified with a beautiful young woman named Rohini, disguised as an antelope and pursued by her lecherous father, disguised as a deer, Mriga. Apparently several ancient peoples associated the star with rain.

The Wikipedia entry notes a Dakota Sioux story in which Aldebaran was a star which had fallen to the Earth and whose killing of a serpent led to the formation of the Mississippi River. Allen notes a number of other alternate names, but precious little mythology is known for Aldebaran separately. Aldebaran is the name of one of the chariot horses in the movie Ben Hur. On a different note, astronomer Jack Eddy has suggested a connection with the Big Horn Medicine Wheel, an ancient circle of stones atop a mountain in Wyoming. Eddy wrote that the ancient Americans may have used this site as a sort of observatory to view the rising of Aldebaran just before the sun in June to predict the June solstice. Interestingly, in about two million years, the American spaceprobe Pioneer 10, now heading out into deep space, will pass Aldebaran. Aldebaran’s position is RA: 4h 35m 55s, dec: 16°30’35” Bottom line: The star is so Aldebaran huge that, were it in our sun’s place, its surface would extend almost to the orbit of Mercury.

The Constellation Taurus – One Minute Astronomer by Brian Ventrudo The constellation Orion points the way to two other prominent constellations this month, Taurus and Canis Major. Today, let’s look at Taurus and its two stunning star clusters. Both are ideal targets for beginning observers, and are worth returning to frequently. Taurus is one of the loveliest constellations of the northern winter sky. A much smaller group than Orion, Taurus two open star clusters, the Hyades and the Pleiades, are a magnificent sight with the unaided eye or with binoculars. In January and February, Taurus is high overhead for northern observers, and low on the northern horizon for southern observers. The constellations Orion (centre), Taurus (upper right) and Canis Major (lower left). Click to enlarge. If you can find Orion, finding Taurus is easy. Just extend the line of Orion’s belt to the northwest until you find a bright orange star nestled in a V-shaped cluster of stars. The bright star is Aldebaran (“all-DEB-a-run”), a swollen giant star some 45x the diameter of our own sun.

The “V”, which marks the head of the bull, is the nearby Hyades star cluster. It’s remarkably beautiful in dark sky, with several close star pairs to challenge your visual acuity. If you have a little extra time this week, you can learn more about the Hyades here… And let’s not forget the tiny dipper-shaped Pleiades star cluster. Just northwest of the “V”, the Pleiades is perhaps the most famous of all star groupings. Nearly every world culture has a name and legend for this star cluster. In Sanskrit, the cluster is called Kṛttikā, which refers to the six sisters of the god Murugan. The Japanese refer to this cluster as Subaru, from which the famous car company takes its name and logo. I have seen absolute beginners get their first view of the Pleiades through binoculars or a low-power telescope, then come away as avowed stargazers. An overhead comment: “I had no idea anything could be so beautiful”. The silver-blue stars of the Pleiades are young, for stars… about 110 million years old. The cluster lies 440 light years from Earth.

Constellation Taurus: All you need to know | Constellations | EarthSky Constellation Taurus: All you need to know By Bruce McClure in Constellations | January 21, 2016 How to find to find the constellation Taurus in the night sky – names some of its bright stars and star clusters – and its mythology. Taurus the Bull is a constellation of the Zodiac that you can see during Northern Hemisphere winter and spring (or Southern Hemisphere summer and fall) in the evening sky. The sun passes through the constellation Taurus from about May 14 to June 21, but you can’t see Taurus when the sun is within its borders. Instead, try looking for Taurus in the early evening sky at the opposite end of the year. Follow the links below to learn more about Taurus the Bull. Taurus the Bull in mythology and timekeeping The three stars of Orion's Belt always point to the star Aldebaran and the Pleiades star cluster. Image via Flickr user Janne . To see Taurus, start by looking along the sun’s path. Just remember that, by definition, zodiacal constellations are those that mark the sun’s yearly path across our sky.

That’s what made them so important and special to the early stargazers – and it also will help guide your eye to these constellations in the night sky. Once you’ve gotten yourself oriented with respect to the sun’s path, then let the three famous Belt stars of the constellation Orion the Hunter guide your eye. Orion and Taurus are next-door neighbors on the sky’s dome. Practiced stargazers often use Orion’s Belt to find Taurus’ most prominent signposts: the V-shaped Hyades star cluster with the bright star Aldebaran in its midst, and the magnificent Pleiades star cluster. In other words, as you can see from the illustration above, Orion’s Belt points to Aldebaran and the Pleiades. Taurus is one of the most spectacular constellations in the nighttime sky. In addition to Aldebaran, Taurus has the intriguing star Elnath . Plus it has two fine star clusters, the Pleiades and the Hyades. And this constellation is the radiant point for the annual Taurid meteor shower in November.

What’s more, Taurus also features the telescopic Crab Nebula (M1) , the remains of a cataclysmic supernova explosion that lit up the daytime sky in A.D. 1054. Europa carried by Zeus, after he was transformed into a bull. Terracotta figurine from Boeotia, ca. 470 BC–450 BC. Image via Wikimedia Commons. Taurus the Bull in mythology and timekeeping. According to Greek mythology, the constellation Taurus commemorates the god Zeus changing himself into a beautiful white Bull to win the affections of the Phoenician princess Europa. After hopping onto the Bull’s back, the Bull swam across the Mediterranean Sea, taking Europa all the way to the Island of Crete. Zeus and Europa became the parents of Minos, the legendary king of Crete. The Zuni of New Mexico used the Pleiades cluster as an agricultural calendar. When the Pleiades – which the Zuni called the Seed Stars – disappeared into the western dusk in spring, they knew it was safe to plant their seeds, as the danger of frost had passed.

But the Zuni also knew the planting must be done before the Pleiades reappeared in the east before sunrise – else immature plants would succumb to autumn frosts. The Zuni were hardly alone in their reverence for Taurus’ Pleiades star cluster. Probably no other star formation has enjoyed such worldwide renown for timekeeping, celebration and storytelling. The sun on the June solstice shines in front of the constellation Taurus the Bull, so Taurus rises and sets with the sun, and is lost in the sun’s glare at this time of year. But in late autumn, winter and early spring, the constellation Taurus the Bull is clearly visible in the evening sky. The ecliptic – the sun’s yearly path through the constellations of the Zodiac – passes through the constellation Taurus the Bull, to the north of the star Aldebaran and to the south of the Pleiades stars cluster. The sun shines in front of Taurus from about May 14 to June 21. Bottom line: How to find to find the constellation Taurus in the night sky – names some of its bright stars and star clusters – and its mythology.

Question: Which star is the brightest in the constellation Taurus?
Answer: ALDEBARAN