[46] Enkidu tears off the bull's hind part and hurls the quarters into the sky where they become the stars we know as Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The XZ Tauri system consists of two pre-main sequence stars classified as T Tauri-type variables … [Read more…], Aldebaran, Alpha Tauri, also known as the Eye of Taurus, is an orange giant star located at a distance of 65 light years from Earth. Messier 45 is one of the nearest star clusters … [Read more…], The Crab Nebula, also known as Messier 1 and Taurus A, is a supernova remnant located in the direction of Taurus constellation. [57], As of 2008[update], the Sun appears in the constellation Taurus from May 13 to June 21. [2] The official constellation boundaries, as set by Belgian astronomer Eugène Delporte in 1930, are defined by a polygon of 26 segments. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Crystal Ball Nebula (NGC 1514) is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Taurus, near the border with Perseus. Michael Rappenglück of the University of Munich believes that Taurus is represented in a cave painting at the Hall of the Bulls in the caves at Lascaux (dated to roughly 15,000 BC), which he believes is accompanied by a depiction of the Pleiades. [41] The Pleiades were closest to the Sun at vernal equinox around the 23rd century BC.

[citation needed], In Greek mythology, Taurus was identified with Zeus, who assumed the form of a magnificent white bull to abduct Europa, a legendary Phoenician princess. It is one of the oldest constellations, dating back to at least the Early Bronze Age when it marked the location of the Sun during the spring equinox. Astronomical chart showing a bull forming the constellation Taurus; hand-coloured etching by Sidney Hall from. It's brightest star is Aldebaran at magnitude 0.85. Every 3.953 days the system temporarily decreases in brightness by 1.1 magnitudes as the brighter star is partially eclipsed by the dimmer companion. [53] Greek mythographer Acusilaus marks the bull Taurus as the same that formed the myth of the Cretan Bull, one of The Twelve Labors of Heracles. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When the spring equinox entered Taurus, the constellation would become covered by the Sun in the western sky as spring began. It lies at an approximate distance of 450 light years from Earth. For the astrological sign, see, Taurus as depicted in the astronomical treatise, sfn error: no target: CITEREFChartrand1993 (, "Secondaries of eclipsing binaries.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In Babylonian astronomy, the constellation was listed in the MUL.APIN as GU4.AN.NA, "The Bull of Heaven". [26], To the west, the two horns of the bull are formed by Beta (β) Tauri and Zeta (ζ) Tauri; two star systems that are separated by 8°. The boundary of the Taurus constellation contains 18 stars that host known exoplanets. [56] Buddha's birthday is celebrated with the Wesak Festival, or Vesākha, which occurs on the first or second full moon when the Sun is in Taurus. The brightest star in Taurus is Aldebaran, the bull's right eye, and another five stars form an almost perfect small "V" that extends out to two more stars …

To hide his lover from his wife Hera, Zeus changed Io into the form of a heifer.

Its representation as a bull is related to the Greek myth of Zeus, who assumed the form of a bull to abduct Europa.

Prior to that time, astronomers had assumed that nebulae were simply unresolved groups of stars. As a result, it also bears the designation Gamma Aurigae. This outline is created by prominent members of the Hyades,[17] the nearest distinct open star cluster after the Ursa Major Moving Group. [22], In the northeastern quadrant of the Taurus constellation lie the Pleiades (M45), one of the best known open clusters, easily visible to the naked eye. It is the brightest star in Taurus constellation and the 14th brightest star in the night sky. A second Greek myth portrays Taurus as Io, a mistress of Zeus. [32], Located about 1.8° west of Epsilon (ε) Tauri is T Tauri, the prototype of a class of variable stars called T Tauri stars. [40], Taurus marked the point of vernal (spring) equinox in the Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age, from about 4000 BC to 1700 BC, after which it moved into the neighboring constellation Aries. However, Herschel could clearly resolve a star at the center of the nebula that was surrounded by a nebulous cloud of some type. The Hyades span about 5° of the sky, so that they can only be viewed in their entirety with binoculars or the unaided eye. Also catalogued as Collinder 50 or Melotte 25, the cluster has an apparent magnitude of 0.5 and lies at a distance of 153 light years, or 47 parsecs, from Earth. At first magnitude, the red giant Aldebaran is the brightest star in the constellation. The constellation of Taurus, the Bull, is best viewed in Winter during the month of January. The Hyades are a star cluster located in Taurus constellation and the nearest open cluster of stars to the solar system. [34] To the north lies Kappa Tauri, a visual double star consisting of two A7-type components. In these ancient cultures, the orientation of the horns was portrayed as upward or backward. [54], Taurus became an important object of worship among the Druids. [8], During November, the Taurid meteor shower appears to radiate from the general direction of this constellation. As old constellations go, Taurus counts among the oldest, with its history dating back thousands of years. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. [48], The same iconic representation of the Heavenly Bull was depicted in the Dendera zodiac, an Egyptian bas-relief carving in a ceiling that depicted the celestial hemisphere using a planisphere. [10] Between 18 and 29 October, both the Northern Taurids and the Southern Taurids are active; though the latter stream is stronger. The plane of their orbit lies almost along the line of sight to the Earth. The Hyades are a star cluster located in Taurus constellation and the nearest open cluster of stars to the solar system. XZ Tauri is located in the Taurus-Auriga molecular cloud, one of the closest star forming regions to Earth. It has an apparent magnitude of 9.43 and lies at an approximate distance of 2,200 light years (700 parsecs) from Earth. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Taurus is a large and prominent constellation in the northern hemisphere's winter sky. This differed from the later Greek depiction where the horns pointed forward. The famous 16,500 year-old map on a cave wall at Lascaux in France is believed to depict the stars in Taurus and the Pleiades, and shows that the constellation was recognised as a bull 15,000 years ago. This planetary nebula is of historical interest following its discovery by German-born English astronomer William Herschel in 1790. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. This star undergoes erratic changes in luminosity, varying between magnitude 9 to 13 over a period of weeks or months. In late November-early December, Taurus reaches opposition (furthest point from the Sun) and is visible the entire night. [36] At a distance of 490 light-years (150 parsecs), this is one of the nearest active star forming regions.

Aldebaran is the brightest star in the constellation with a visual magnitude of 0.86. it is also the thirteenth brightest star in the sky. [50] To the early Hebrews, Taurus was the first constellation in their zodiac and consequently it was represented by the first letter in their alphabet, Aleph.

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Taurus, illumination from a Book of Hours, Italian.

Zeta Tauri (the proper name is Tianguan[21]) is an eclipsing binary star that completes an orbit every 133 days. This suggests that the name may have a common ancient origin. Who discovered the phenomenon of “Baily’s beads”? Also catalogued as Collinder 50 or Melotte 25, the cluster has an apparent magnitude of 0.5 and lies at a distance of 153 light years, or 47 parsecs, from Earth. This spans a diameter of 98 light-years (30 parsecs) and contains 35,000 solar masses of material, which is both larger and less massive than the Orion Nebula.

However, the remnant itself was not discovered until 1731, when John Bevis found it. Taurus (bull), watercolour and ink on paper, from a manuscript created in Ulm or Augsburg, Germany. This article was most recently revised and updated by, Space.com - Taurus Constellation: Facts About the Bull, Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand - Taurus, Taurus - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Taurus - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). [24], The star Lambda (λ) Tauri is an eclipsing binary star. [41] Among the arctic people known as the Inuit, the constellation is called Sakiattiat and the Hyades is Nanurjuk, with the latter representing the spirit of the polar bear. [24] The Pleiades cluster is classified as a Shapley class c and Trumpler class I 3 r n cluster, indicating that it is irregularly shaped and loose, though concentrated at its center and detached from the star-field. It is an orange giant star located about 65 light years from Earth. [49] To the Egyptians, the constellation Taurus was a sacred bull that was associated with the renewal of life in spring. The most recognizable star in Taurus is Aldebaran. Updates? Beta is a white, spectral class B7 III giant star known as El Nath, which comes from the Arabic phrase "the butting", as in butting by the horns of the bull.

A number of features exist that are of interest to astronomers. The nebula lies at an approximate distance of 6,500 light years from Earth. The seven most prominent stars in this cluster are at least visual magnitude six, and so the cluster is also named the "Seven Sisters".

In the northwest part of Taurus is the supernova remnant Messier 1, more commonly known as the Crab Nebula. The variable star T Tauri is the prototype of a class of pre-main-sequence stars. Taurus hosts two of the nearest open clusters to Earth, the Pleiades and the Hyades, both of which are visible to the naked eye. The Beta Taurid meteor shower occurs during the months of June and July in the daytime, and is normally observed using radio techniques.

The cluster is estimated to dissipate in another 250 million years. [12], The brightest member of this constellation is Aldebaran, an orange-hued, spectral class K5 III giant star. [25], In the northern part of the constellation to the northwest of the Pleiades lies the Crystal Ball Nebula, known by its catalogue designation of NGC 1514.

One of the oldest depictions shows the bull standing before the goddess' standard; since it has 3 stars depicted on its back (the cuneiform sign for "star-constellation"), there is good reason to regard this as the constellation later known as Taurus. In the equatorial coordinate system, the right ascension coordinates of these borders lie between 03h 23.4m and 05h 53.3m , while the declination coordinates are between 31.10° and −1.35°. At its peak, the supernova reached magnitude −4, but the nebula is currently magnitude 8.4 and requires a telescope to observe. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. [20] It includes a naked eye double star, Theta Tauri (the proper name of Theta2 Tauri is Chakumuy)[21], with a separation of 5.6 arcminutes.



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