Taurus constellation
Taurus (the Bull) is a constellation in the northern sky, best seen in the evening in January. Its brightest star is Aldebaran (magnitude 0.85). It contains the Hyades and the Pleiades. Taurus covers 797 square degrees and is the 17th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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How to find Taurus, step by step
Follow Orion's Belt to the Bull's eye.
- Find Orion's Belt on a winter evening.
- Follow the belt up and to the right (northwest) to the bright orange star Aldebaran, the bull's eye, at the tip of a V-shaped group of stars: the Hyades, the bull's face.
- Continue the same direction to the Pleiades (M45), the tiny dipper-shaped star cluster on the bull's shoulder.
Detailed star map of Taurus
Facts
| Latin name | Taurus (genitive: Tauri) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Tau |
| Meaning | the Bull |
| Area | 797 square degrees (17th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 4.6 h, declination +17° |
| Visible from | latitudes 89° N to 59° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | January (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Aldebaran |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 142 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 16 |
| Messier objects | M1, M45 |
| Neighbors | Aries, Auriga, Cetus, Eridanus, Gemini, Orion, Perseus |
How to find Taurus
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in January evenings: at about 9 pm Taurus stands highest, around 67° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 38° above the horizon. The months before and after (December and February) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Taurus borders Aries, Auriga, Cetus, Eridanus, Gemini, Orion and Perseus.
Asterisms with stars in Taurus: Winter Hexagon.
Stars of Taurus
Taurus has 142 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldebaran | α Tauri | 0.85 | K5+III | 67 ly |
| Elnath | β Tauri | 1.65 | B7III | 134 ly |
| Alcyone | η Tauri | 2.87 | B7IIIe | 370 ly |
| Tianguan | ζ Tauri | 3.0 | B4IIIpe | 457 ly |
| Chamukuy | θ2 Tauri | 3.4 | A7III | 157 ly |
| — | λ Tauri | 3.47 | B3V+A4IV | — |
| Ain | ε Tauri | 3.53 | G9.5IIICN0.5 | 155 ly |
| — | ο Tauri | 3.6 | G6IIIFe-1 | — |
| Atlas | 27 Tauri | 3.63 | B8III | 387 ly |
| Prima Hyadum | γ Tauri | 3.65 | K0-IIIabCN1 | 144 ly |
| Electra | 17 Tauri | 3.7 | B6III | 375 ly |
| — | ξ Tauri | 3.74 | B9Vn | — |
Deep-sky objects in Taurus
Taurus contains 2 objects from Charles Messier's catalog:
- Crab Nebula (M1): supernova remnant, 8.4 mag
- Pleiades (M45): open cluster, 1.6 mag
Printable Taurus map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Taurus figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Taurus is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest (2nd century AD). Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Taurus
What is the brightest star in Taurus?
Aldebaran, at magnitude 0.85, about 67 light-years away.
When can you see Taurus?
Taurus is best seen in the evening in January. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 89° N and 59° S.
How many stars are in Taurus?
142 stars in Taurus are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 16 of them have official IAU names.
What does Taurus mean?
Taurus means “the Bull” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Tau and the genitive, used in star names such as α Tauri, is Tauri.
