SkyEye

The Bull

Abbreviation: Tau
Genitive: Tauri
Origin: [antiquity]

The constellation of Taurus

Taurus is a member of the zodiac. This is one of the most ancient of constellations, harking back to Babylonia and perhaps even before. The bull is identified with Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. He assumed the guise of a white bull to abduct Princess Europa. When she found the bull amongst her father's herd, she climbed on his back and Zeus immediately swam to Crete where he revealed his true identity to her. Europa became the first queen of Crete.

Notable Features

Designation	Name	Description
α Tau	Aldebaran	This is a first magnitude star and although it appears in the sky to be a member of the Hyades, it is unrelated to the star cluster. It sometimes appears as Oculus Australis (from the Latin oculus australis meaning 'the southern eye') or Palilicium (from the Latin Palilicium meaning 'the feast of Pales') in older star atlases and catalogues. In Hindu astronomy, it is known as Rohini, from the Sanskrit rohiṇī meaning 'the reddish one'.
β Tau	Elnath	Elnath was once also identified as γ Aur. It appears as Kurn al Thaur al Shimalih (from the Arabic qarn al‑thawr ush‑shamāliy meaning 'the northern horn of the bull') in Mohammad Al Achsasi Al Mouakket's calendarium.
γ Tau	Prima Hyadum	This star appears as Aoul al Debaran (from the Arabic awwal tad‑dabarā meaning 'the first follower') in Mohammad Al Achsasi Al Mouakket's calendarium.
δ Tau	Secunda Hyadum
ε Tau	Ain	This star is known to have at least one exoplanet. It sometimes appears as Oculus Boreus (from the Latin oculus boreus meaning 'the northern eye') in older star atlases and catalogues.
ζ Tau	Tianguan
η Tau	Alcyone	Alcyone is the brightest member of the Pleiades. It star appears as Al Thaur al Thureiya (from the Arabic al‑thaur al‑thurayyā meaning 'the bull of al‑Thurayyā') in Mohammad Al Achsasi Al Mouakket's calendarium.
θ² Tau	Chamukuy
16 Tau	Celaeno	This is a member of the Pleiades.
17 Tau	Electra	This is a member of the Pleiades.
19 Tau	Taygeta	This is a member of the Pleiades.
20 Tau	Maia	This is a member of the Pleiades. Maia was the eldest of the seven sisters.
21 Tau	Asterope	This is a member of the Pleiades. It sometimes appears as Sterope Ⅰ in older star atlases and catalogues.
23 Tau	Merope	This is a member of the Pleiades. Merope was the youngest of the seven sisters.
27 Tau	Atlas	This is a member of the Pleiades. Atlas was the father of the seven sisters.
28 Tau	Pleione	This is a member of the Pleiades. Pleione was the mother of the seven sisters.
HD 28678	Hoggar	This eighth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet.

M1	Crab Nebula	This is the nebulous remnant of a supernove explosion witnessed on Earth in 1054. A small telescope is needed to see it.
M45	Pleiades	Also known as the Seven Sisters, the open cluster of young stars can be seen clearly with the naked eye. Time-exposure photography reveal the stars to be embedded in gas and dust. In Arabic astronomy, the Pleiades are known as a‑Thurayyā, meaning 'the little abundant one'. In Hindu astronomy, the Pleiades are known as Krittika, from the Sanskrit kṛttikā meaning 'the cutters'.
C41	Hyades	This constellation is home to another famous open cluster, the Hyades. Much closer to us than the Pleiades, the Hyades form the V shape of the bull's head. In Arabic astronomy, the Hyades are sometimes known as Al‑Qilās, meaning 'the young camels'.

Taurus

The Bull

Notable Features

Open Cluster Close-up