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Taurus

Genitive: Tauri

Equatorial 797 sq° Tau

Brightest star: Aldebaran

Mythology

The Bull, identified with Zeus who transformed into a magnificent white bull to carry off Europa. The bull's face is formed by the Hyades star cluster, with Aldebaran as its fiery eye.

Observing Highlights

Contains the Pleiades (M45), the Hyades, and M1 (Crab Nebula) — the remnant of the 1054 supernova. Aldebaran is a prominent orange giant. A spectacular winter constellation and the radiant of the Taurid meteors.

Main Stars

20

HIP 21421; Alpha Tau; 87 Tau

0.85 mag K5III

HIP 25428; Beta Tau; 112 Tau

1.65 mag 33.8″ B: 2.4 B5.5IV

HIP 17702; Eta Tau; 25 Tau

2.87 mag 117.6″ B: 6.3 B7III

HIP 26451; Zeta Tau; 123 Tau

3.00 mag B1IVe shell

HIP 20894; Theta2 Tau; 78 Tau

3.40 mag 336.9″ B: 3.9 A7III

HIP 18724; Lambda Tau; 35 Tau

3.47 mag 3.4 - 3.9 EA/DM B4IV

HIP 20889; Epsilon Tau; 74 Tau

3.53 mag 190.4″ B: 10.6 G9.5III CN0.5

HIP 15900; 1 Tau

3.60 mag G6III

HIP 17847; 27 Tau

3.63 mag B7III

HIP 20205; Gamma Tau; 54 Tau

3.65 mag G9.5IIIab CN0.5

HIP 17499; 17 Tau

3.70 mag B6III

HIP 16083; Xi Tau; 2 Tau

3.74 mag 0.6″ B: 7.5 B7.5V

HIP 20455; Delta1 Tau; 61 Tau

3.76 mag G9.5III CN0.5

HIP 20885; Theta1 Tau; 77 Tau

3.84 mag 337.4″ B: 7.3 G9III Fe-0.5

HIP 17573; 20 Tau

3.87 mag B6.5III

HIP 18907; Nu Tau; 38 Tau

3.91 mag 16.1″ B: 9.2 A0.5V

HIP 16369; 5 Tau

4.11 mag K0II-IIIFe-0.5

HIP 17608; 23 Tau

4.18 mag B6IVe

HIP 20635; Kappa1 Tau; 65 Tau

4.22 mag 339.4″ B: 5.3 A7IV-V

HIP 21402; 88 Tau

4.25 mag 69.2″ B: 7.8 A5m

Double Stars

15

HIP 25428; Beta Tau; 112 Tau

1.65 mag 33.8″ B: 2.4 B5.5IV
5.46 mag 9.7″ B: 6.4 B7IIIe
5.96 mag 11.3″ B: 6.9 A2V

HIP 20894; Theta2 Tau; 78 Tau

3.40 mag 336.9″ B: 3.9 A7III

HIP 25695; 118 Tau

5.47 mag 4.7″ B: 6.7 B8.5V

HIP 20430; Chi Tau; 59 Tau

5.37 mag 19.4″ B: 8.5 B9V

HIP 20250; Phi Tau; 52 Tau

4.95 mag 48.7″ B: 7.5 K1III
6.40 mag 14.9″ B: 8.0 F7V
5.89 mag 4.8″ B: 9.7 K5IIIb
6.47 mag 4.5″ B: 7.2 F2V:

HIP 20533; 62 Tau

6.36 mag 29.1″ B: 7.9 B3V
5.88 mag 25.3″ B: 10.3 B9pHg
6.01 mag 11.3″ B: 9.1 A5m

HIP 25499; 115 Tau

5.42 mag 10.1″ B: 11.1 B5V

HIP 16846

5.71 mag 6.7″ B: 8.9 G9V

Variable Stars

4

HIP 18724; Lambda Tau; 35 Tau

3.47 mag 3.4 - 3.9 EA/DM B4IV

HIP 21604

5.92 mag 5.85 - 6.68 EA/SD: B8V

HIP 25945; 119 Tau

4.38 mag 4.22 - 4.63 SRC M2Iab-Ib

HIP 27181

6.95 mag 6.4 - 7.3 SRB C5II

Deep Sky Objects

30
Open Cluster (6)
0.5 mag 330
1.6 mag
6.4 mag 45.
6.0 mag 42.
7.0 mag 17.
7.7 mag 16.
Galaxy (17)
14.0 mag 3.1 Sab
15.0 mag 1.3 Sc
14.0 mag 2.0 Sc
14.0 mag 0.8 Sbc
16.0 mag 1.4 Sbc
15.0 mag 1.7 Sb
15.0 mag SBc
15.0 mag Sc
14.0 mag Sc
15.0 mag Sab
14.0 mag SABa
15.0 mag 1.3 S0
— mag S0
15.0 mag Sb
15.0 mag SABa
13.0 mag 2.0 E
14.0 mag 1.8 E
Planetary Nebula (1)
10.0 mag 1.9
Diffuse Nebula (2)
— mag 180.
— mag 180.
Reflection Nebula (3)
— mag 30.
— mag 30.
— mag 15.
Supernova Remnant (1)

NGC 1952

8.4 mag 6.