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| What does the constellation Taurus look like? Taurus (constellation). A star that in many ways “gives a head start” to the Sun |
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Project "My Sky" The Latin name of this constellation, TAURUS, echoes the Russian word TUR, meaning the primeval bull. However, now its generally accepted Russian name is TAURUS. An ancient Greek myth connects the star TAURUS with the white BULL, into which Jupiter turned himself in order to kidnap the daughter of the Phoenician king, the beautiful Europa, and hide her in Crete. Some similarities can be seen. Traditional look: Here is the diagram that seems close to reality to me: This TAURUS may not be so beautiful, but it is free from the non-existent contours of a massive body in the sky. An important point for me is the location of the Pleiades star cluster. The ancient Russian name of the Pleiades is known - Volosozhary (Vlasozheltsi, Volosyn), which is connected with the cult of the “cattle” god Volos (Veles), the patron of animals and wealth, who was sometimes represented in the form of a shaggy, “hairy” bear. It seemed to me symbolically correct to associate the “hairiness” of the Pleiades with the withers of a bull. Let us note and list the brightest stars of TAURUS:
Green With a point near the southern horn of TAURUS, I marked the ever-expanding Crab Nebula M1 - the remains of a supernova explosion in 1054. Now that nebula is a powerful source of radio and x-ray radiation and cannot be ignored by astrological attention. Moreover, this astronomical object is located so close to the ecliptic. The influence of the Crab Nebula is mixed with star No. 4 (ζ Tauri) or, according to Ptolemy, the end of the Southern horn of Taurus. A blue the point is nothing other than the location of the discovery of Uranus on March 13, 1781. This once again emphasizes the importance of the tip of the Southern Horn of Taurus as a place of extraordinary signs. This table lists both officially named stars and those with names based on the constellation diagram: * Pleiades (M45) - in ancient Greek mythology, the daughters of the titan Atlas and the oceanids Pleione. According to one myth, the Pleiades, overcome with grief over the death of their brother Geas and the Hyades sisters, committed suicide and were taken to heaven and turned into a constellation. There are about 3,000 stars in the Pleiades star cluster, but from the point of view of an earthly observer, it is customary to single out the 7 largest. The brightest stars in the Pleiades cluster are named after seven sisters: Alcyone (Alcyone), Keleno, Maia, Merope, Sterope, Taygeta and Electra. Every astrologer will be interested to know that in the Korean vision of the star world, the Pleiades were called “Market”, which is understandable - the star cluster can be associated with a crowded eastern market. From an astrological point of view, TAURUS is directly related to the financial market, so the Korean vision of the Pleiades is very close to the meaning of TAURUS itself. |
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A zodiacal constellation that lies entirely in the northern hemisphere of the celestial sphere. In the second half of summer it is visible first at dawn, then in the second half of the night in the eastern part of the sky, from the second half of autumn it rises until midnight, the best time of evening visibility is winter, when the constellation culminates over the point of the south in the evenings. In spring it is visible in the early evening in the west-northwest; in early May it disappears in the rays of the evening dawn.
In addition to two bright open star clusters, the famous Crab Nebula is located in the constellation Taurus. It is located near the star z (Zeta) of this constellation and, despite the fact that its magnitude is 8.4m, the nebula is a difficult object to observe with amateur telescopes. In 1054, a bright supernova flashed in this part of the sky, which was visible to the naked eye even during the day, which was recorded by Arab and Chinese astronomers of that era. And in 1758, when Messier searched for one of the comets in this area of the sky, he almost confused this nebula, unknown at that time, with a tailed guest. It was this unfortunate misunderstanding that prompted the famous astronomer to create his famous catalog of nebulae and star clusters, in which the Crab Nebula is listed as number 1 (M1).
Among the bright variable stars, it is worth highlighting the Lambda (l) Tauri star, which is an eclipsing variable star of the Algol type (Beta Persei), changing its brightness within a small range from 3.4 to 3.9m. Eclipses last 14 hours, so it is not possible to observe the full eclipse cycle in one night (with the exception of the northern regions during the polar night). The brightness period is almost 4 days (3.953), so if the eclipse occurs in the evening, you will be able to see subsequent eclipses every four evenings for about one month. In addition to the main minimum, there is also a secondary minimum (up to 0.2m).| Latin name | Taurus |
| Reduction | Tau |
| Square | 797 sq. degrees (17th place) |
| Right ascension | From 3h 17m to 5h 53m |
| Declension | From −1° 45′ to +30° 40′ |
| Brightest stars (< 3 m) |
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| Number of stars brighter than 6 m | 125 |
| Meteor showers |
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| Neighboring constellations | |
| Constellation visibility | From +89° to −59° |
| Hemisphere | Northern |
| Time to observe the area Belarus, Russia and Ukraine | November |
The most interesting objects to observe in the constellation Taurus
Atlas of the constellation Taurus
1. Hyades open star cluster
Hyades- a huge star cluster, which occupies an area of 8° in the sky, contains about 200 stars, located at a distance of about 150 light years from the Sun. The Hyades are considered the closest open star cluster to us. The bright star Aldebaran is not physically connected in any way with the Hyades, it is only “successfully” located for the observer. It is noteworthy that this cluster has no other name in the catalogs; it just so happens that no serial number was assigned to the Hyades. The Hyades can often be found in science fiction books: either a spaceship flies through it, or the action takes place on one of the planets.
To observe this cluster, no astronomical instruments are required; only in some cases you can use binoculars to take a closer look at one or another area of it.
2. Pleiades open star cluster (M 45)
I probably won’t be able to find a person who is at least somewhat interested in astronomy and has not seen this wonderful star cluster. It is clearly visible to the naked eye in the form of a small bucket of seven bright stars. No wonder M 45 also called “Seven Sisters”. On the Internet in various sources you can find a colossal amount of information about this open cluster, there is no need to repeat it, I’ll just point out that the cluster contains about 400-500 stars, occupies an area of just over 1.8° in the sky, and is distant from the Sun at a distance of 407 light years . The cluster is young - its age does not exceed 50 million years. Most stars are very hot, blue, and belong to the spectral type.
Cluster stars M 45 surrounded by a reflective nebula, which can be clearly seen in a telescope at low magnifications, using a wide-angle eyepiece and an absolutely perfect black sky. Remember the article from the “Expectation and Reality” series about open clusters? There I showed a real photograph, which objectively reflects the reality of what was seen, for example, through binoculars. Finding the Pleiades is very easy, pay attention to the general map of Taurus above - this “bucket” is clearly visible from Aldebaran.
3. Crab Nebula (M 1 or NGC 1952)
M 1 is an excellent example of a starburst that exploded in 1054. The nebula is located at a distance of approximately 9-10 light years from the Sun. At the center of the nebula is NP 0532 with a pulsation period of 0.033 seconds. The pulsar has a brightness in the visible range from 14.4 to 17.7 m. Linear dimensions M 1 approximately equal to 6 × 4′, brightness - 8.4 m. However, you should not count on easy prey; this object is fraught with many secrets and may prove elusive for the first acquaintance. You will need clear skies, no city light, and especially no moonlight. It is easy to find, you need to find the star ζ (zeta) Tauri and raise the telescope tube a little higher:
4. A pair of open star clusters NGC 1807 and NGC 1817
A pair of dense, bright, beautiful open star clusters NGC 1807 And NGC 1817 in ideal weather they are visible to the naked eye, but when using binoculars both are visible simultaneously in the same field of view. The first has an area of 17′ and a brightness of 7 m, and the second occupies 16′ in the sky and has a brightness of 7.7 m. They lie on the border with the constellation and are easily located from neighboring bright stars (look at the star map above).
5. Planetary Nebula NGC 1514
This is the Crystal Ball in the constellation Taurus. The nebula, small in size (1.54′) and brightness (10 m), is located in the north of the constellation at the very foot of Perseus at a distance of 800 light years from the Sun. The Planetarka was discovered by William Herschel back in 1790. There are two ways to find it in a telescope: start from the Plaids cluster or from the star ζ Perseus with a brightness of 2.8 m. Below on the map I have drawn the route to the goal with arrows. in a 150 mm telescope it is visible as a cloudy small speck with a noticeable bright center; in a 250 mm telescope, under good weather conditions, it will be possible to see the inhomogeneity in brightness and blurred contours of the nebula.
6. Open star cluster NGC 1647
Unsaturated open cluster NGC 1647 has a little more than 150 stars with a total surface brightness of 6.4 m and an angular size of 45′. It is unlikely that you will be able to see it with the naked eye, since the cluster strongly merges with the surrounding stars, but it will not be difficult to find it with binoculars even for beginners - from the Hyades (or the star Aldebaran) we move to the left. Below on the map red arrow indicated the direction:
7. Open star cluster NGC 1746
By brightness and area NGC 1746 not inferior to the previous cluster. It contains about 200 stars, but along the contour there are several brighter ones, which create a memorable image of the cluster. Continuing the straight line from the Hyades, passing through NGC 1647, we will stumble upon NGC 1746(marked on the map above green arrows).
Multiple star systems
8.1 Binary star 118 Tau
Two star system 118 Tau with a total magnitude of 6.7 m, it conceals two associated stars with magnitudes of 6.6 m and 5.8 m. The angular distance between them is tiny, just under 5″. In order to separate a double star into its components, an entry-level binocular or telescope will not be enough, however, for a 150 mm device and a magnification of 100+ times this becomes possible. The map above showed its location: we start from the border star Alnas and slowly descend below.
I am sure that you will return to this cluster more than once; open clusters such as the Pleiades and Hyades will accompany you for many nights. But it’s good when, in addition to the most famous two star clusters, there is something else to look at through a telescope. Search, find, share notes and impressions.
A very beautiful and spectacular constellation has been known to people for a very long time, many centuries before the new era. It was found in the night sky by scientists in Ancient Egypt and Babylon, associating it with the head of a bull. However, experts believe that the very first to describe it was the astronomer and mathematician Eudoxus of Cnidus, who lived in Ancient Greece. It is included in the Zodiac belt and amazes with its beauty. For astronomers, the constellation Taurus is an extremely curious phenomenon, containing a lot of interesting things.
The name of the constellation came to us not from anywhere, but from Ancient Greece. One of its most interesting myths says that King Agenor once ruled in Phenicia, who had three sons and a daughter, Europa. She was considered the most beautiful girl on the whole Earth and was second only to goddesses in beauty. One day the beauty was noticed by the thunderer Zeus. Turning into a snow-white bull, he kidnapped the lovely Europa and brought her to the island of Crete. The kidnapped princess eventually became the deity's beloved and even gave him sons, one of whom was the legendary Myth says that beautiful Europe had a very kind character, always helped people and loved them. In gratitude, her subjects named one part of the world after her.
Some of the most notable objects are called the Hyades and Pleiades. The Pleiades, which are an open cluster, are sometimes also called the seven sisters, because even ordinary people in a silver cloud can clearly see six or even seven stars shining in the shape of a small bucket. There are about five hundred stars in the Pleiades, and they are all blue and shrouded in a blue nebula of dust and gas.
As for the Hyades, this scattered collection of stars is even closer to Earth, only some one hundred and thirty light years away, and consists of 132 luminaries. It must be said that this is the closest cluster to the Sun. Well, at the very eastern edge of the cluster, a reddish star shines, sometimes changing its brightness, in the constellation Taurus Aldebaran or, as it is also called, the “ox’s eye”.
This bright luminary has long attracted the eyes of people. Another very interesting object for which the constellation Taurus is famous is the so-called Crab Nebula. This name is due to the fact that the galactic nebula actually somewhat resembles the shell of a crab. This is a trace that took place back in the 11th century. It must be said that there is mention of this event in the sources: Japanese and Chinese astronomers, like their European colleagues, observed and described the outbreak of an unusually bright star. This nebula is located directly on and from time to time radiates with its pulsar
Finding the constellation Taurus in the night sky is very easy, because there are excellent landmarks for this: the luminous bucket of the Pleiades and the reddish-orange Aldebaran. Just to the east of this star the constellation Gemini shines, and on the southern side the beautiful Orion twinkles. Our star comes to the constellation Taurus on May 11, and the photos then turn out to be very interesting. Well, the best time to observe this object is at the end of autumn - in November and December.
> Taurus
What time to observe the zodiac constellation Taurus between Aries and Gemini: place in the star chart, facts with photos, legend, Aldebaran, nebula.
Taurus - constellation, which is located in the northern sky. From Latin "Taurus" is translated as "bull".
The symbol represents the animal's head. It is one of the 12 zodiac constellations (12 signs of the zodiac) recorded by Ptolemy in the second century. But its history begins in the Bronze Age.
Taurus is a large and one of the most famous constellations. In Greece, he was associated with Zeus, who turned into a bull to kidnap Europa. Includes many bright stars, as well as the famous Pleiades (). Among the objects: the variable nebula NGC 1555, the colliding galaxies NGC 1410 and NGC 1409, the nebula NGC 1514 and NGC 1435.
Facts, position and map of the constellation Taurus
With an area of 797 square degrees, the constellation Taurus ranks 17th in size. Covers the first quadrant in the northern hemisphere (NQ1). It can be found in latitudes from +90° to -65°. Adjacent to , and .
| Taurus | |
|---|---|
| Lat. Name | Taurus |
| Reduction | Tau |
| Symbol | Bull |
| Right ascension | from 3 h 17 m to 5 h 53 m |
| Declension | from -1° 45’ to +30° 40’ |
| Square | 797 sq. degrees (17th place) |
| Brightest stars (value< 3 m ) |
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| Meteor showers |
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| Neighboring constellations |
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| The constellation is visible at latitudes from +89° to -59°. The best time for observation is November, December. |
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Accommodates two Messier objects (M1 and M45), as well as 5 stars with planets. The brightest is (Alpha Tauri), whose apparent magnitude is 0.85. He also ranks 13th among all stars. Two meteor showers are noticeable: Taurides (November) and Beta Taurides (June-July). Included in the Zodiac group, where , and are also located. Consider the diagram of the constellation Taurus on a star chart.
The myth of the constellation Taurus
In the Bronze Age they already knew about Taurus, as it marked the position of the Sun at the vernal equinox. In many cultures, the constellation was depicted in the form of a bull. Images of Taurus and the Pleiades were even found on rocks in the Lascaux cave (15,000 BC). The constellation was popular among many nations, where Taurus and the Pleiades were called the bull and the seven sisters.
In Greek myths, Zeus was the bull. He dreamed of kidnapping Europa (Agenor's daughter). For this purpose, he transformed into a bull and hid in the royal herd. He was the most handsome, so he attracted the girl's attention. As soon as she climbed onto her back, Zeus carried her to Crete, where he showed himself and presented her with gifts.
They had 3 sons, among whom was Minos (King of Crete). He built a palace where he held games with bulls, and once a year he sacrificed 7 boys and girls to the Minotaur. Later, God will send the bull to heaven.
There is also a legend about Zeus and Io (mother of Europa). She was also seduced by God. But Hera began to guess about the betrayal, so he turned the girl into a cow and hid her.
In Babylon, the constellation was called “MUL.APIN” - “Heavenly Bull”. This is the story of Gilgamesh (one of the earliest literary works in Mesopotamia). The bull was sent by the goddess Ishtar to kill the hero who rejected her love. Gilgamesh is sometimes referred to as Orion because both stories depict a fight with a bull.
The main stars of the constellation Taurus
Explore the bright stars of the zodiac constellation Taurus with detailed descriptions and characteristics.
Aldebaran(Alpha Tauri) is an orange giant (K5III) with an apparent visual magnitude of 0.75-0.95 (the brightest in the constellation and the 13th in the sky) and a distance of 65.1 light years. It is 44.2 times the diameter of the sun and 425 times brighter. It is a slow irregular LB variable whose brightness varies by 0.2 magnitudes.
The star is located within the constellation Orion, so you need to look near the three bright stars that form the point of Orion's belt. You can also use the Hyades cluster, as it is the brightest star in it. But it is not part of the composition, but lies on the line of sight (the Hyades cluster is 150 light years away from us).
Aldebaran is located close to the ecliptic and can be obscured by the Moon.
The traditional name comes from the Arabic al-dabarān - “follower”. The star received this name because it appears to follow the Pleiades.
Nat(Beta Tauri) is a giant (B7III) with a visual magnitude of 1.68 and a distance of 131 light years. It is 700 times brighter than the Sun and is located near the ecliptic (may be overlapped by the Moon). It is located next to the constellation Auriga, and is therefore sometimes referred to as Gamma Aurigae (rarely used).
The name is taken from the Arabic word an-naţħ - “to butt” (a reference to the horns of a bull).
Zeta Tauri– a spectroscopic double star (B2 IIIpe), whose visual magnitude reaches 3.010, and its distance is 440 light years. Orbital period – 133 days.
The main object rotates at a speed of 125 km/s and has a circumstellar disk of gas. Reaches 11 solar masses and is 5-6 times larger in radius. The satellite is inferior to the Sun in terms of massiveness.
Theta Taurus- a double star and one of the stars of the Hyades cluster. The objects are separated by 5.62 arcminutes. The first is 154.4 light years away from us, and the second is 150.4 light years away.
Theta-1 is an orange giant (K0 IIIb Fe-0.5) and a dimmer of two objects with a visual magnitude of 3.84. Theta-2 is a white giant (A7 III) with an average apparent magnitude of 3.40. This is the Delta Scuti variable, whose brightness varies from 3.35 to 3.42 with a period of 1.82 hours.
Lambda Taurus- a triple star with a visual magnitude of 3.47 and a distance of 480 light years. From Latin "Pectus Tauri" means "ox chest".
The main object is an inner pair of stars (Lambda AB) with an orbital period of 3.95 days. Together they form an eclipsing binary star system with total apparent magnitude varying from 3.37 to 3.91.
The primary component (B3 V) reaches 7 solar masses, 6.4 times larger in radius and 5801 times brighter. Rotation speed – 85 km/s. The second star is a subgiant (A4 IV) 1.9 times more massive and 128 times brighter than the Sun. Rotation speed – 76 km/s. The third object reaches half the mass of the sun and revolves around the inner pair with a period of 33.025 days.
Epsilon Taurus– an orange giant (K0 III) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.53 and a distance of 147 light years. It is located near the ecliptic, so it periodically hides behind the Moon or planets. There is an 11th magnitude satellite located 182 arcseconds away. The star is part of the Hyades cluster. Age – 625 million years.
In 2007, an exoplanet was found whose orbital period is 1.6 years. Became the first planet discovered in an open cluster (still the only known planet in the Hyades cluster).
There are two names: Ain and Oculus Borealis, meaning "eye".
Gamma Taurus– a giant (G8III) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.654 and a distance of 154 light years. Age – 430-530 million years. Exceeds the solar radius by 13.4 times and is 85 times brighter.
The traditional name of the star Hyadum I is translated from Latin as “First Hyades”. The star is located 2.5 parsecs from the center of the open Hyades cluster.
Xi Taurus– a triple star, represented by three blue-white dwarfs of the main sequence (B). It is a spectroscopic and eclipsing star system. Two of the three stars are located in a close orbit and rotate every 7.15 days. A third star revolves around them every 145 days.
The average apparent visual magnitude is 3.73, varying from 3.70 to 3.79. The system is 222 light years away.
Delta Taurus- represented by three star systems located in the Hyades cluster. They are also close to the ecliptic, so they are overlapped by the Moon and planets.
Delta 1 (Second Hyades) is a triple star system with a total apparent visual magnitude of 3.77 and a distance of 153 light years. The main object is an orange giant (K0 III) 74 times brighter than the Sun and 11.6 times larger in radius. The companion is a 12th magnitude star, 107 arcseconds distant and not physically connected. Rotates with a period of 530 days.
Delta-2 is a main sequence dwarf (A7V) with a visual magnitude of 4.80 and a distance of 146 light years. Located 0.23° from Delta-1.
Delta 3 is a triple star system located 0.72° from Delta 1. The apparent visual magnitude is 4.30, and the distance is 148 light years. The main object is a white subgiant (A2IV). It is an Alpha 2 Canes Venatici variable with changes in brightness from magnitude 4.29 to 4.32 every 57.25 days. There are two satellites: 8th and 11th magnitude.
Kappa Taurus- a star system located 148 light years away. The brightest objects form a visual binary represented by two stars (A): a subgiant with a visual magnitude of 4.21 and a dwarf with a visual magnitude of 5.27. They are separated by 5.8 arc minutes.
Between them is another double star, consisting of two 9th magnitude stars separated by 5.3 arcseconds. They are located 183 seconds from the brightest object in the system. There are two more satellites - 12th magnitude stars.
Upsilon Taurus is a triple star and member of the Hyades cluster. The apparent visual magnitude is 4.28, and the distance is 155 light years.
The main object is a main sequence dwarf (A). It is a Delta Scuti type variable with changes in brightness ranging from 4.28 to 4.31 every 3.56 hours. It is a spectroscopic binary star whose components are separated by 0.02 arcseconds. The third is a 12th magnitude star located 110 arcseconds from the pair.
119 Taurus– a red supergiant (M2Iab-Ib) with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.32 and a distance of 1.802 light years. The diameter is 600 times larger than the sun. It is also one of the most famous red stars with a color index of 2.07.
It is a semi-regular variable whose brightness varies from 4.23 to 4.54 over 165 days. It is located near the ecliptic, so it is sometimes hidden behind the Moon and planets.
Rho Taurus is a white main sequence star (A8V) with a visual magnitude of 4.65 and a distance of 152 light years. It exceeds the solar mass by 1.88 times, and its rotation speed is 117 km/s. The rotation period is 488.5 days. It is a Delta Scuti type variable star with brightness fluctuations of 0.01 magnitude every 1.61 hours.
111 Taurus– double star and X-ray source. It is represented by two main sequence stars F8 V and K5 V. The total apparent magnitude is 5.1149, and the distance is 46.9 light years.
Omicron Taurus– a giant (G6 III Fe-1) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.61 and a distance of 212 light years. It is a double star with an orbital period of 1655 days.
Axial revolution – 533 days. It has 18 times the radius, three times the mass and 155 times the brightness.
T Taurus is a variable star that serves as a prototype for T Tauri variables. It was found by John Hind in 1852. Located near Epsilon Taurus.
These are pre-main sequence stars, at least twice the solar mass, with spectral types F, G, K and M. They are brighter than main sequence stars because they are larger in radius. Most often, they are located near molecular clouds and exhibit optical variability and powerful chromospheric lines.
The system is represented by three stars. One can be viewed at optical wavelengths, and the rest at infrared wavelengths. One of them is a source of radio waves.
T Tauri lies near and illuminates the reflection nebula NGC 1555 (the nebula also shows changes in brightness). The apparent visual magnitude of the system is 10.27, and its distance is 600 light years from Earth.
T Tauri is a double star separated by 0.6"" (not shown in the image). Objects near the star are not satellites, but features of the filter. The nebula to the west (NGC 1555) is reflected by the star.
RV Taurus– a yellow supergiant (G2eIA-M2Ia) with variations in brightness from 9.5 to 13.5 and a distance of 7100 light years. This is also the prototype for the variable class. As the luminosity changes, the star also changes its spectral type. At maximum brightness - G2, and at minimum - M2. The circumstellar disk is visible.
It is a pulsating variable approaching the end of its existence. Eventually, it will push out the outer layers, leaving a planetary nebula and a white dwarf.
In 1905, Russian astronomer Lydia Seraski noticed the variability in brightness.
HD 37124– a yellow dwarf (G4V) with an apparent visual magnitude of 7.68 and a distance of 110 light years.
Three exoplanets were spotted in 2005. None are hot Jupiters and all are located within the habitable zone.
Alcyone(Eta Tauri) is an eclipsing binary system with an apparent visual magnitude of 2.873 and a distance of 370 light years. It is the third brightest star in the system and the brightest in the Pleiades cluster. The two objects are separated by 0.031 arcseconds.
The main star is a blue-white giant (B7IIIe) with a visual magnitude of 2.87. The radius is 10 times larger than the sun and 2400 times brighter. Rotation speed – 215 km/s. It has a gas disk at the equator.
The second star consists of B, C and D. The first two are white dwarfs (A) of 8th magnitude, D is a yellow-white dwarf (F). C is also a Delta Scuti variable, whose brightness varies from 8.25 to 8.30 every 1.13 hours.
Atlas(27 Tauri) is a triple star with a visual magnitude of 3.62 and a distance of 381 light years. She got her name from Titan (father of the Pleiades).
The main object is a blue-white giant (B8 III). This is a spectroscopic binary system consisting of components with visual magnitudes 4.1 and 5.6. Orbital period – 1250 days. A faint companion with an apparent magnitude of 6.8 is located 0.4 arcseconds away.
Electra(17 Tauri) is a blue-white giant (B6 IIIe) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.705 (the third brightest in the cluster) and a distance of 600 light years. The rotation speed is 181 km/s, due to which the star is flattened at the poles and stretched at the equator. There is noticeable excess radiation in the infrared range. This is a hint that it is surrounded by a disk of gas created due to the loss of mass (caused by the rapid speed of rotation). Sometimes a star is overlapped by the Moon and planets.
Mayan(20 Tauri) is a blue giant (B8III) with a visual magnitude of 3.871 and a distance of 360 light years. This is one of the stars in the Maya Nebula (NGC 1432).
It is a mercury-manganese and chemically specific star with a prominent spectral line due to the absorption of ionized mercury. It is 4 times the solar mass, 5.5 times larger in radius and 660 times brighter.
Merope(23 Tauri) is a blue-white subgiant (B6IVe) with a visual magnitude of 4.113 and a distance of 360 light years. Reaches 4.5 solar masses, 4 times larger in radius and 630 times brighter. It is a Beta Cephei type variable with brightness fluctuations of 0.01 magnitude.
It is surrounded by the Merope Nebula. The Pleiades cluster is currently passing through the nebula.
Taygeta(19 Tauri) is a triple star system with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.30 and a distance of 440 light years. The main object is spectroscopic binary star A. It is a blue-white subgiant (B6IV), whose components reach magnitudes 4.6 and 6.1 and are separated by 0.012 arcseconds. Orbital period – 1313 days. An 8th magnitude satellite, separated by 69 arcseconds, is also visible.
Pleiona(28 Tauri, BU Tauri) is a double star (B8Ivpe) with a visual magnitude of 5.048 and a distance of 392 light years. It is close to the bright Atlas, so it is difficult to see.
It is a hot class B star and a classical Be star, with hydrogen emission lines in its spectrum. 190 times brighter than the Sun. It is also a Gamma Cassiopeiae type variable, whose brightness varies from 4.8 to 5.5.
Whole(16 Tauri) is a blue-white subgiant (B7IV) with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.448 and a distance of 430 light years. They call it the “Lost Pleiades” because it is the most difficult to find. It exceeds the solar radius by 4 times, and the rotation speed reaches 185 km/s.
Asterope(21 and 22 Tauri) are two stars separated by 0.04° and located 440 light years away. 21 Tauri is a main sequence dwarf (B8 V) with an apparent magnitude of 5.76. 22 Tauri is a main sequence dwarf (A0Vn) with a visual magnitude of 6.43.
Celestial objects of the constellation Taurus
Crab Nebula(Messier 1, M1, NGC 1952) – supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula (fed by the pulsar wind located in the shells of the supernova remnants).
A pulsar is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that produces a stream of electromagnetic radiation.
The apparent magnitude of Messier 1 is 8.4, and its distance is 6500 light years. It spans 11 years in diameter and is expanding at a speed of 1500 km/s. It was discovered by John Bevis in 1731 and became the first object in the Messier catalog in 1758.
It is believed to be the remnant of a supernova recorded by Chinese, Japanese and Arab astronomers in 1054. It became the first deep sky object to be associated with a supernova explosion. At the center there is a neutron star, the Crab Pulsar, which is the remnant of supernova SN 1054, identified in 1968. Creates pulses of radiation ranging from gamma rays to radio waves that rotate 30.2 times per second.
Pleiades(Messier 45) is an open star cluster of hot, luminous stars (B), most of which formed within the last 100 million years. This is the most famous cluster in the sky and is incredibly easy to find (located close and very bright).
The apparent visual magnitude is 1.6 and spans 110 arc minutes. The stars are located 390-460 light years from our system.
It is destined to “live” another 250 million years, after which contact with nearby objects will cause the stars to disperse. The stars are physically connected and have the same proper motion.
The nine brightest stars are named after the Pleiades - the 7 sisters in Greek mythology. According to legend, Atlas had to hold the heavens on his shoulders. At the same time, Orion begins the hunt for his daughters. To protect them, Zeus first turned them into doves and then into stars. Ironically, Orion still haunts the Pleiades in the sky. The earliest mention of the cluster dates back to the Bronze Age.
Hyades Cluster(Caldwell 41, Melotte 25, Collinder 50) is an open cluster containing hundreds of stars with a common motion, origin, age and chemical composition. This is the closest star cluster to the Sun, so it has been well studied. Age – 625 million years. The apparent magnitude is 0.5, and the distance is 153 light years. The core is densely packed with stars and spans 17.6 light years in diameter.
The brightest stars in the cluster and Aldebaran create a "V" shape. But Aldebaran is not included in the composition, but lies on the same line of sight.
The four brightest stars are Gamma, Delta, Epsilon and Theta. They are all red giants and are separated by several light years. Together they form an asterism representing the head of a bull.
The cluster was named after the Hyades - 5 daughters of Atlas and half-sisters of the Pleiades.
Variable Hinds Nebula(NGC 1555) is a reflection nebula that exhibits changes in luminosity due to changes in the brightness of stars. Located next to T Taurus and illuminated by its brightness. On October 11, 1852, she was found by John Hind.
NGC 1410 and NGC 1409
NGC 1409 (right) and NGC 1410 (left) are colliding galaxies bound by a gaseous arc stretching over 20,000 light years. NGC 1410 acts as a host, so it exhibits active star formation. NGC 1409 has few young blue stars.
The apparent visual magnitude is 15.4, and the distance is 300 million light years. Due to the gravitational connection they will become one object.
Crystal Ball Nebula(NGC 1514) is a large planetary nebula with an apparent visual magnitude of 9.43. It is believed to surround a nearby double star with an orbital period of 10 days.
In November 1790, she was noticed by William Herschel.
NGC 1746– an asterism or open cluster with a visual magnitude of 6.1 and a diameter of 42 arc minutes. In 1863, it was found by Heinrich Louis D'Arre.
Merope Nebula(NGC 1435) is an open reflection nebula located in the Pleiades cluster and surrounding the star Merope (23 Tauri). This is a suspected supernova remnant.
It also envelops IC 349, a bright nebula located 0.06 light-years from Merope.
NGC 1435 was discovered by German astronomer Wilhelm Tempel. The apparent visual magnitude is 13.0, and the distance is 440 light years.
- an open cluster located between the bull's horns. Apparent visual magnitude – 6.4.
NGC 1817– an open star cluster with an apparent magnitude of 7.7. It was found by William Herschel on February 19, 1784.
NGC 1807– an open cluster with a visual magnitude of 7.0. John Herschel discovered it on January 25, 1832.
You have the opportunity to examine the zodiac constellation Taurus in more detail if you use not only our Hubble photos, but 3D models and an online telescope. For independent searching, a star map is suitable.
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