Taurus: The Bull
Pronunciation: TOR-us
| Taurus Constellation Profile | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Tau | Genitive: Tauri |
| Origin: Ancient | Location: Celestial Equator |
| Best View (North): Winter | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Auriga, Perseus, Aries, Cetus, Eridanus, Orion, Gemini | |
The Myth Behind the Constellation Taurus
Taurus, “The Bull” represents Zeus in the form he took when he abducted Europa, daughter of the king of Phoenicia. While playing on the beach, Europa sighted a magnificent white bull with golden horns grazing peacefully with her father’s herd. She was entranced by its beauty and gentle demeanor. The bull knelt before her, and when she climbed up on its back, it went into the sea and swam her to Crete, where Zeus finally shed his bestial disguise. He seduced her and one of their offspring was Minos, king of Crete.Taurus Constellation Points of Interest
| Interesting Objects in the Constellation Taurus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Messier | NGC | Type | Visibility |
| Crab Nebula | M1 | NGC 1952 | Supernova Remnant | Binoculars |
| Pleiades | M45 | Open Star Cluster | Naked-Eye | |
Bright Stars in Taurus
These are the stars in Taurus with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.| Name | Bayer Name | Magnitude | Color | Luminosity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldebaran | Alpha Tauri | 0.87 | Orange | 1081 suns | 65 ly |
| El Nath | Beta Tauri | 1.65 | Blue | 669 suns | 131 ly |
| Alcyone | Eta Tauri | 2.85 | Blue | 1,243 suns | 368 ly |
| Tien Kwan | Zeta Tauri | 2.97 | Blue | 2,307 suns | 418 ly |