Tau Aurigae — Star in Auriga
Observe
1Physical Properties
Magnitude
4.52
Spectral Type
G8IIIFe-1
giant
Star Color
Orange
(B-V 0.94)
Distance
466 ly
2Position & Identifiers
RA
05h 49m 10.5s
Dec
+39° 10' 52.0"
Constellation
Auriga
(Aur)
HR
1995
HIP
27483
HD
38656
SAO
58465
Bayer
Tau
Flamsteed
29 Aur
Double Cat
4398
Querying VizieR catalog...
3How easy to spot?
Sign in
and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.
| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Medium+ | Medium | Medium |
| 50 mm finder 50mm finder | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm telescope 150mm scope | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Easy
Medium
Hard
Very hard
Impossible
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
Best season
Nov – Jan
(peak: Dec)
5Survey Image
Loading survey image…
Explore
6
Size Comparison
Querying VizieR for stellar data…
7
Compare Stars
8
Spectral Classification
9
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Loading HR diagram…
10
Stellar Lifecycle
11
Blackbody Spectrum
12
Stellar Absorption Spectrum
Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.
13
Stellar Fusion
Discover
14Stellar Notes
Ursa cluster? UMa stream.
15
Light Travel Time Machine
16
Relativistic Travel
Nearby in the Sky
Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.
Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.
Explore Nightbase
Related knowledge, tools, and stories — no observation planning required.
Arthur Eddington
1919 eclipse expedition confirming general relativity; first theory of stellar interiors; the Eddington limit
Biography
The Life of Stars
From birth in a nebula to spectacular death — how stars are born, shine, swell, and die, and how to read the clues in their starlight.
Article
Auriga
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
Constellation
