Taurus
Quick FactsName: | Taurus TAW-russ | Meaning: | Bull | Abbreviation: | Tau | Genitive: | Tauri | Visible in Latitudes: | 90° thru -65° | Viewing Season: | Winter | Best Seen In: | January, 9:00 pm | Transit Date: | November 30 | Right Ascension: | 4.27 hours | Declination: | 18.9 degrees | Area: | 797.249 sq. degrees |
Star Diagram
About TaurusTaurus is another of the earliest known constellations, and so probably orginated from the Babylonians. To the Greeks, Taurus was one of the two bulls with brazen feet that were tamed by Jason of the Argonauts. In Taurean myth, Zeus swam out to Crete as a bull and seduced Eurpopa who bore a son, Minos, father of Minotaur, a half man and half bull monster. Minotaur was locked in a Labyrinth and ate human flesh. Minotaur was killed by Theseus when he was helped by Adiadne's ball of thread. Taurus was also referred to as being rich in maidens (the Hyades and the Pleiades, all daughters of Atlas).
Named Stars | | | Name | Star |
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Aldebaran | Alpha Tau | Alnath | Beta Tau | Hyadum I | Gamma Tau | Hyadum II | Delta 1 Tau | Ain | Epsilon Tau | Alcyone | Eta Tau | Celaeno | 16 Tau | Electra | 17 Tau | Taygeta | 19 Tau | Maia | 20 Tau | Asterope | 21 Tau | Sterope II | 22 Tau | Merope | 23 Tau | Atlas | 27 Tau | Pleione | 28 Tau |
Messier Objects | | | Name | Type |
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M1 | Supernova Remant (Crab Nebula) | M45 | Open Cluster (Pleiades) |
Neighboring Constellations |