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Taurus constellation

Taurus is a zodiac constellation near the celestial equator. Its brightest star is Aldebaran. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Winterbest seen
  • Aldebaranbrightest star, magnitude 0.9
  • TauTaurus
Show on the sky map
The constellation Taurus in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Betelgeuse, Orion — magnitude 0.5. Open on the sky mapAldebaran, Taurus — magnitude 0.9. Open on the sky mapAldebaranBellatrix, Orion — magnitude 1.6. Open on the sky mapElnath, Taurus — magnitude 1.6. Open on the sky mapElnathAlnilam, Orion — magnitude 1.7. Open on the sky mapAlnitak, Orion — magnitude 1.7. Open on the sky mapMintaka, Orion — magnitude 2.3. Open on the sky mapMenkar, Cetus — magnitude 2.5. Open on the sky mapAtik, Perseus — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapAlcyone, Taurus — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapAlcyoneTejat, Gemini — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapTianguan, Taurus — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapTianguanChamukuy, Taurus — magnitude 3.4. Open on the sky mapChamukuyλ Tauri — magnitude 3.4. Open on the sky mapAin, Taurus — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapο Tauri — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapAtlas, Taurus — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapPrima Hyadum, Taurus — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapElectra, Taurus — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapξ Tauri — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapSecunda Hyadum, Taurus — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapθ¹ Tauri — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapMaia, Taurus — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapν Tauri — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapf Tauri — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapMerope, Taurus — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapκ Tauri — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapd Tauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapμ Tauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapc¹ Tauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapτ Tauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapυ Tauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky map10 Tauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapTaygeta, Taurus — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky map68 Tauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapThe Ruby Star, Taurus — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapA¹ Tauri — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky map71 Tauri — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky map136 Tauri — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Taurus

Follow the line of Orion’s Belt up and to the right (to the northwest) — you reach orange Aldebaran. A little farther along the same line is the Pleiades star cluster: a tiny dipper of six or seven stars.

Best seen in winter: in December around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 52°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawrises and sets, fully visible
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgrises and sets, fully visible

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Aldebaranα Tauri 0.9orangeabout 65 light years
Elnathβ Tauri 1.6blue—
Alcyoneη Tauri 2.9bluish white—
Tianguanζ Tauri 3.0blue—
Chamukuyθ² Tauri 3.4bluish white—
λ Tauri 3.4bluish white—
Ainε Tauri 3.5orange—
ο Tauri 3.6yellow—
Atlas27 Tauri 3.6bluish white—
Prima Hyadumγ Tauri 3.6orange—
Electra17 Tauri 3.7bluish white—
ξ Tauri 3.7bluish white—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Taurus in the sky?

Follow the line of Orion’s Belt up and to the right (to the northwest) — you reach orange Aldebaran. A little farther along the same line is the Pleiades star cluster: a tiny dipper of six or seven stars.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Taurus?

In winter: in December around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Taurus?

Aldebaran: magnitude 0.9, orange. Distance: about 65 light years.

How many stars are there in the constellation Taurus?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 143 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Winter constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Taurus is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map