Constellations
Taurus constellation
Taurus is a zodiac constellation with an ancient tradition. In Greek myth Zeus turned himself into a white bull to carry off the princess Europa. The Bull’s reddish eye is Aldebaran, a red giant that appears to sit in the V-shaped Hyades cluster but actually lies much closer to us. The tips of the horns are marked by Elnath and Tianguan; near Tianguan lies the Crab Nebula, M1, the remnant of a supernova seen in 1054. Famous above all are the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, a sparkling cluster including Alcyone, Atlas, Electra, Maia, Merope, Taygeta, Celaeno, Asterope and Pleione. Taurus appears in the evening sky in late autumn and stands high in the south in winter, to the upper right of Orion.
The brightest stars in Taurus
| Star | HIP | Magnitude | Distance | Light set off | Name this star |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldebaranα Tau | 21421 | 0.87 | 67 light years | around 1959 | Name this star: Aldebaran |
| Elnathβ Tau | 25428 | 1.65 | 134 light years | around 1890 | Name this star: Elnath |
| Alcyoneη Tau | 17702 | 2.85 | 403 light years | around 1620 | Name this star: Alcyone |
| Tianguanζ Tau | 26451 | 2.97 | 445 light years | around 1580 | Name this star: Tianguan |
| Chamukuyθ² Tau | 20894 | 3.40 | 150 light years | around 1880 | Name this star: Chamukuy |
| λ Tau | 18724 | 3.41 | 484 light years | around 1540 | Name this star: λ Tau |
| Ainε Tau | 20889 | 3.53 | 147 light years | around 1880 | Name this star: Ain |
| ο Tau | 15900 | 3.61 | 291 light years | around 1740 | Name this star: ο Tau |
| Atlas27 Tau | 17847 | 3.62 | 382 light years | around 1640 | Name this star: Atlas |
| Prima Hyadumγ Tau | 20205 | 3.65 | 162 light years | around 1860 | Name this star: Prima Hyadum |
| Electra17 Tau | 17499 | 3.72 | 405 light years | around 1620 | Name this star: Electra |
| ξ Tau | 16083 | 3.73 | 209 light years | around 1820 | Name this star: ξ Tau |
| Secunda Hyadumδ¹ Tau | 20455 | 3.77 | 156 light years | around 1870 | Name this star: Secunda Hyadum |
| θ¹ Tau | 20885 | 3.84 | 154 light years | around 1870 | Name this star: θ¹ Tau |
| Maia20 Tau | 17573 | 3.87 | 383 light years | around 1640 | Name this star: Maia |
Distances from the Hipparcos catalogue. For very distant stars they are uncertain – the year the light set off is therefore only a rough guide.
Frequently asked questions
When can you see the Taurus constellation?
The best time to see Taurus is in the evening in December, when the constellation reaches its highest point in the south around 10 pm.
What is the brightest star in Taurus?
The brightest star in Taurus is Aldebaran (α Tau) with an apparent magnitude of 0.87, about 67 light years away.
Can I name a star in Taurus?
Yes – for free at Sternschenker. Our catalogue contains 223 naked-eye stars in Taurus. Pick one, give it a name and download your certificate as a PDF. The name is symbolic and not recognised by the IAU.
Which star will it be?
The sky is waiting. Naming your star takes about two minutes.
Name a star in Taurus