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Constellations / Taurus

Taurus

Tauri

Equatorial 797 sq° Tau

Brightest star: Aldebaran

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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
Aldebaran

Aldebaran

HIP 21421; Alpha Tau; 87 Tau

0.85 mag 31.4″ B: 13.6 K5III
Elnath

Elnath

HIP 25428; Beta Tau; 112 Tau

1.65 mag 33.8″ B: 2.4 B5.5IV
Alcyone

Alcyone

HIP 17702; Eta Tau; 25 Tau

2.87 mag 117.6″ B: 6.3 B7III
Tianguan

Tianguan

HIP 26451; Zeta Tau; 123 Tau

3.00 mag B1IVe shell
Chamukuy

Chamukuy

HIP 20894; Theta2 Tau; 78 Tau

3.40 mag 336.9″ B: 3.9 A7III
Lambda Tau

HIP 18724; Lambda Tau; 35 Tau

3.47 mag 3.4 - 3.9 EA/DM B4IV
Ain

Ain

HIP 20889; Epsilon Tau; 74 Tau

3.53 mag 190.4″ B: 10.6 G9.5III CN0.5
1 Tau

HIP 15900; 1 Tau

3.60 mag G6III
Atlas

Atlas

HIP 17847; 27 Tau

3.63 mag 95.1″ B: 13.2 B7III
Prima Hyadum

Prima Hyadum

HIP 20205; Gamma Tau; 54 Tau

3.65 mag 0.4″ G9.5IIIab CN0.5
Electra

Electra

HIP 17499; 17 Tau

3.70 mag 99.1″ B: 13.0 B6III
Xi Tau

HIP 16083; Xi Tau; 2 Tau

3.74 mag 0.6″ B: 7.5 B7.5V
Secunda Hyadum

Secunda Hyadum

HIP 20455; Delta1 Tau; 61 Tau

3.76 mag 112.6″ B: 13.2 G9.5III CN0.5
Theta Tau

Theta Tau

HIP 20885; Theta1 Tau; 77 Tau

3.84 mag 337.4″ B: 7.3 G9III Fe-0.5
Maia

Maia

HIP 17573; 20 Tau

3.87 mag 113.4″ B: 13.7 B6.5III
Nu Tau

HIP 18907; Nu Tau; 38 Tau

3.91 mag 16.1″ B: 9.2 A0.5V
5 Tau

HIP 16369; 5 Tau

4.11 mag K0II-IIIFe-0.5
Merope

Merope

HIP 17608; 23 Tau

4.18 mag 110.6″ B: 14.4 B6IVe
Kappa Tau

Kappa Tau

HIP 20635; Kappa1 Tau; 65 Tau

4.22 mag 339.4″ B: 5.3 A7IV-V
88 Tau

HIP 21402; 88 Tau

4.25 mag 69.2″ B: 7.8 A5m

Double Stars

15
Elnath

Elnath

HIP 25428; Beta Tau; 112 Tau

1.65 mag 33.8″ B: 2.4 B5.5IV
HIP 25950
5.46 mag 9.7″ B: 6.4 B7IIIe
HIP 16411
5.96 mag 11.3″ B: 6.9 A2V
Chamukuy

Chamukuy

HIP 20894; Theta2 Tau; 78 Tau

3.40 mag 336.9″ B: 3.9 A7III
118 Tau

HIP 25695; 118 Tau

5.47 mag 4.7″ B: 6.7 B8.5V
Chi Tau

HIP 20430; Chi Tau; 59 Tau

5.37 mag 19.4″ B: 8.5 B9V
56 Tau

HIP 20186; 56 Tau

5.38 mag 14.5″ B: 13.5 A0pSi
Phi Tau

HIP 20250; Phi Tau; 52 Tau

4.95 mag 48.7″ B: 7.5 K1III
HIP 20904
6.40 mag 14.9″ B: 8.0 F7V
HIP 19284
5.89 mag 4.8″ B: 9.7 K5IIIb
HIP 21619
6.47 mag 4.5″ B: 7.2 F2V:
62 Tau

HIP 20533; 62 Tau

6.36 mag 29.1″ B: 7.9 B3V
HIP 21323
5.88 mag 25.3″ B: 10.3 B9pHg
HIP 24019
6.01 mag 11.3″ B: 9.1 A5m
115 Tau

HIP 25499; 115 Tau

5.42 mag 10.1″ B: 11.1 B5V

Variable Stars

4
HU Tau

HIP 21604

5.92 mag B8V
Lambda Tau

HIP 18724; Lambda Tau; 35 Tau

3.47 mag 3.4 - 3.9 EA/DM B4IV
119 Tau

HIP 25945; 119 Tau

4.38 mag M2Iab-Ib
T Tau

HR 9132

9.30 mag 9.3 - 13.5 CTTS/ROT G-M

Deep Sky Objects

30
Open Cluster (6)
Hyades

C41

0.5 mag 330
M45

–

1.6 mag
NGC 1647
6.4 mag 45.
NGC 1746
6.0 mag 42.
NGC 1807
7.0 mag 17.
NGC 1817
7.7 mag 16.
Galaxy (17)
NGC 1589
14.0 mag 3.1 Sab
NGC 1590
15.0 mag 1.3 Sc
NGC 1642
14.0 mag 2.0 Sc
IC 1967
14.0 mag 0.8 Sbc
IC 1956
16.0 mag 1.4 Sbc
IC 1977
15.0 mag 1.7 Sb
NGC 1384
15.0 mag SBc
NGC 1462
15.0 mag Sc
NGC 1517
14.0 mag Sc
NGC 1542
15.0 mag Sab
NGC 1633
14.0 mag SABa
NGC 1409
15.0 mag 1.3 S0
NGC 1593
— mag S0
IC 1918
15.0 mag Sb
IC 2057
15.0 mag SABa
NGC 1587
13.0 mag 2.0 E
NGC 1588
14.0 mag 1.8 E
Planetary Nebula (1)
NGC 1514
10.0 mag 1.9
Diffuse Nebula (2)
IC 353
— mag 180.
IC 360
— mag 180.
Reflection Nebula (3)
Maia nebula

Maia nebula

NGC 1432

— mag 30.
Merope nebula

Merope nebula

NGC 1435

— mag 30.
IC 359
— mag 15.
Supernova Remnant (1)
M1

NGC 1952

8.4 mag 6.