Alcyone

Alcyone (η Tauri) is a blue-white star in the constellation Taurus. With an apparent magnitude of 2.87 it is the 146th-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 370 light-years from Earth.

Finder chart showing where Alcyone is in the constellation Taurus
Alcyone (circled) in Taurus, with the surrounding constellations and bright stars.
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Facts

ConstellationTaurus
Designationη Tauri (Eta Tauri), HR 1165
Apparent magnitude2.87 (146th brightest)
Spectral typeB7IIIe
Colorblue-white (B−V -0.09)
Distanceabout 370 light-years
Right ascension3 h 47.5 min
Declination+24.11°
Best monthJanuary (at about 9 pm)

Sources: star positions, magnitudes and colors from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue; constellation boundaries and star names from the IAU; areas and distances from Wikidata; stick figures by M. van der Sluys. How the maps are made.

How to find Alcyone

Alcyone is in Taurus. From 40° N it is highest in the south in January evenings, about 74° above the horizon. From 35° S it reaches about 31° in the north. Nearby bright stars: Aldebaran (14° away), Algol (19° away) and Elnath (23° away).

Taurus constellation →

Other named stars in Taurus

AldebaranElnathTianguanChamukuyAinAtlasPrima HyadumElectraSecunda HyadumMaiaMeropeTaygeta

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