Taurus, the Bull (Tau)

(TOR-us)

The Northern constellation of Taurus, the Bull, is best viewed in Winter during the month of January. It's brightest star is Aldebaran at magnitude 0.85. The boundary of the Taurus constellation contains 18 stars that host known exoplanets.

1. Pronunciation:
2. TOR-us

1. Meaning:
2. Bull

1. Genitive:
2. Tauri

1. Abbreviation:
2. Tau

1. Constellation Family:
2. Zodiacal

1. Hemisphere:
2. Northern

1. Quadrant:
2. NQ1

1. Best viewing month*:
2. January

1. Right Ascension (avg):
2. 4h 6m

1. Declination (avg):
2. 17° 20'

1. Meteor showers:
2. Taurids

1. Brightest star:
2. Aldebaran (0.85)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 18

Brightest Stars in Taurus

The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Taurus by magnitude.

1. Star
2. Magnitude
3. Spectral class

1. Alpha Tauri (α Tau)
2. 0.87
3. K5III

1. Beta Tauri (β Tau)
2. 1.65
3. B7III

1. Eta Tauri (η Tau)
2. 2.85
3. B7III

1. Zeta Tauri (ζ Tau)
2. 2.97
3. B4IIIp

1. Theta Tauri (θ² Tau)
2. 3.4
3. A7III

1. Lambda Tauri (λ Tau)
2. 3.41
3. B3V + A

1. Epsilon Tauri (ε Tau)
2. 3.53
3. K0III

1. Omicron Tauri (ο Tau)
2. 3.61
3. G8III

1. 27 Tauri (27 Tau)
2. 3.62
3. B8III

1. Gamma Tauri (γ Tau)
2. 3.65
3. G8III

Double Stars in Taurus

These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Taurus. Also see all star clusters.

1. Star system
2. Magnitudes
3. Type

1. Chi Tauri
2. 5.4, 8.5
3. double

1. 118 Tauri
2. 5.8, 6.7
3. double

Star Clusters in Taurus

The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Taurus . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star cluster
2. Catalog #
3. Cluster type

1. Hyades
2. C41
3. open

1. Pleiades
2. M45
3. open

Nebulae in Taurus

Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Taurus . Also see all nebulae.

1. Nebula name
2. Catalog #
3. Nebula type

1. Barnard's Merope Nebula
3. reflection

1. Crab Nebula
2. M1
3. supernova remnant

1. Merope Nebula
3. reflection

1. Spaghetti Nebula
3. supernova remnant

Neutron Stars in Taurus

These are the most well-known neutron stars in the constellation Taurus. Although neutron stars cannot be seen in any amateur telescope, they are at the center of many supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Also see all neutron stars.

1. Neutron star
3. Type

1. Crab Pulsar
3. pulsar

1. J0337+1715
3. millisecond pulsar

1. PSR J0348+0432
3. pulsar

1. Spaghetti Nebula pulsar
3. pulsar

* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.

** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).