The Constellation Taurus | Location, Facts, and Brightest Stars

Taurus is a large and prominent constellation in the sky. Taurus is Latin, meaning the Bull. The Taurus constellation gets its name from an easy to see V shape, symbolizing a bull’s head in the sky. It is a well-known constellation in the zodiac.

By belonging to the zodiac this constellation is one of 12 that is crossed by the plane of the ecliptic. Taurus is the 17th largest constellation in the sky, occupying an area of 797 square degrees.

Taurus is one of the 48 constellations cataloged by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. However, this constellation dates back to the Bronze Age making it one of the oldest.

Symbolism: The Bull
Right Ascension: 4.9^h
Declination: 19°
Area: 197 sq. deg.
Main Stars: 19
Brightest Star: Aldebaran
Messier Objects: 2
Meteor Showers: Taurids, Beta Taurids
Bordering Constellations: Auriga, Perseus, Aries, Cetus, Eridanus, Orion, Gemini

Prominent Stars in Taurus

Taurus is full of bright stars that make it easy to spot in the sky. Some define the shape of the bull, while others are part of its famous clusters.

Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri)

Aldebaran is the fiery red “eye of the bull” and the brightest star in Taurus, shining at a visual magnitude of 0.86. This red giant lies about 65 light-years from Earth and is easily visible to the naked eye. You can quickly spot it by following the three stars of Orion’s Belt, which point directly toward Aldebaran.

The star also help locate the famous Hyades cluster as it appears to be the brightest star within the V-shaped group. In reality, Aldebaran is not part of the cluster; it simply lies along the same line of sight, while the Hyades are about 150 light-years away.

Aldebaran’s name comes from the Arabic al-dabarān, meaning “the follower,” because Taurus seems to follow the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) across the sky.

In mythology, Aldebaran represents the bull’s bloodshot eye, said to be glaring menacingly at Orion, adding a touch of drama to the winter sky.

Elnath (Beta Tauri)

Elnath is the second brightest star in Taurus, shining at magnitude 1.68. This blue-white giant star lies about 131 light-years away and is roughly 700 times more luminous than the Sun.

Its name, Elnath, Alnath, or El Nath, comes from the Arabic an-naţħ, meaning “the butting,” a nod to the bull’s horns. Like Aldebaran, Elnath lies near the ecliptic and can occasionally be occulted by the Moon, making it an interesting target for careful observation.

Alcyone

Alcyone is the third brightest star in Taurus and the brightest member of the Pleiades cluster. A binary star system, its primary star is a blue-white giant located about 370 light-years from Earth.

Alcyone takes its name from one of the mythological Seven Sisters, perfectly fitting its prominent place in the star cluster that has fascinated stargazers for thousands of years.

Other Notable Stars in Taurus

Zeta Tauri (ζ Tauri): A variable eclipsing binary, forms the opposite horn of the bull.
Lambda Tauri (λ Tauri): Another eclipsing binary with a short orbital period.
Gamma Tauri (γ Tauri): Part of the Hyades cluster, contributes to the bull’s face.
Theta Tauri (θ Tauri): Two stars in the Hyades cluster, visible in small telescopes.
Omicron Tauri (ο Tauri): Another Hyades member, adds to the V-shape.
Upsilon Tauri (υ Tauri): A δ Scuti variable star within the Hyades cluster.
Ain (Epsilon Tauri, ε Tauri): Part of the bull’s face, also a planet host star.
Pleione: A variable star in the Pleiades cluster, occasionally outshining nearby stars.

Meteor Showers From Taurus

Taurus isn’t just famous for its bright stars and clusters, it’s also the origin point for several meteor showers throughout the year.

Taurid Meteor Shower

Active from October through November, the Taurids are split into Northern and Southern Taurids.
The Northern Taurids peak around November 11–12, while the Southern Taurids peak around October 9–10.
Meteors can still be visible through late November, especially in the early morning hours from any dark location.
This shower is visible almost anywhere on Earth, except the South Pole.

Beta Taurid Meteor Shower

Occurs during June and July.
Unlike most meteor showers, the Beta Taurids happen during daytime, so they are usually observed using radio techniques rather than by eye.

In the photo above, you’ll notice a Taurid meteor streaking across the night sky. The image is a 30-second (tracked) exposure of the night sky looking in the direction of Taurus. I used a portable star tracker to freeze the apparent motion of the stars.

Deep Sky Objects in Taurus

This constellation hosts some of the most famous deep-sky objects in the night sky. The three standouts are the Pleiades cluster (M45), the Hyades cluster, and the Crab Nebula (M1). Together, they offer a mix of sparkling star clusters and a historic supernova remnant, making Taurus a favorite for stargazers and astrophotographers alike.

Pleiades (Messier 45)

The Pleiades is an open cluster of about 500 stars, six of which are visible to the naked eye. All of these stars were formed by the same cloud of gas about 100 million years ago. The seven brightest stars are named after the seven daughters of Atlas, the titan in Greek Mythology who holds up the sky.

At a distance of only 390 light-years, it is one of the closest open clusters to earth.

Type: Open star cluster
Distance: ~440 light-years
Description: A tight cluster of hot, blue stars famously known as the Seven Sisters
Observing Tips: Visible to the naked eye; binoculars or wide-field lenses reveal dozens of stars and delicate nebulosity
Astrophotography: Excellent target for wide-field imaging; captures beautifully in long exposures

The Pleiades Star Cluster in Taurus.

Crab Nebula (Messier 1)

Another famous Messier object in Taurus is the Crab Nebula. The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant that formed only about a thousand years ago in the year 1054 CE. It was formed when an old star blew itself apart in a catastrophic explosion.

Type: Supernova remnant
Distance: ~6,500 light-years
Description: Remnant of a supernova observed in 1054 AD, containing a pulsar at its center
Observing Tips: Requires a mid- to large-aperture telescope; best seen under dark skies
Astrophotography: Narrowband imaging brings out the intricate structure

The Crab Nebula

Hyades Cluster

Another notable star cluster in Taurus is called Hyades. This open cluster contains approximately 200 stars. This cluster is found within the horns of the bull. Taurus contains a number of other deep-sky objects that are too dim to be seen with anything other than a large telescope.

Type: Open star cluster
Distance: ~150 light-years
Description: V-shaped cluster forming the bull’s face, with Aldebaran appearing as the “eye”
Observing Tips: Easily visible with the naked eye; a great target for binoculars
Astrophotography: Wide-field shots can capture both Hyades and nearby Aldebaran

See all of the constellation star maps from the IAU here.

Other Notable Objects

NGC 1555 (Hind’s Variable Nebula): A small reflection nebula near T Tauri
NGC 1647: An open cluster near Aldebaran, easy to find with binoculars
NGC 1746: A more scattered open cluster, best observed with wide-field telescopes

Location

Taurus is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky, easily identified by the V-shape of its horns.

It can be seen during winter and early spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and even its bright features are visible from urban areas.

Covering an area of 797 square degrees, Taurus is the 17th largest constellation and is located in the first quadrant of the Northern Hemisphere (NQ1).

It’s visible at latitudes between 90° and -65°, making it accessible to observers across much of the globe. Taurus is also one of the 12 zodiac constellations, lying along the path of the Sun, known as the ecliptic. This means that the Sun, Moon, and planets occasionally pass through Taurus.

Where to Find Taurus

Using Orion as a guide: Once you’re familiar with the Sun’s path, let the three stars of Orion’s Belt point the way to Taurus. Aldebaran, the bull’s bright red eye, is an easy reference point.
Neighboring constellations: Taurus is bordered by Aries (west), Gemini (east), Perseus and Auriga (north), Orion (southeast), Eridanus (south), and Cetus (southwest).
The ecliptic: Following the Sun’s path will help you locate Taurus, since it lies along this celestial longitude.

Best Time to See Taurus

Opposition: In late November to early December, Taurus reaches opposition (its furthest point from the Sun) and is visible all night.
Seasonal visibility: By late March, Taurus sets at sunset. From May to July, it disappears behind the Sun’s glare.
Northern Hemisphere: Most prominent in late fall and winter.
Southern Hemisphere: Visible low on the northern horizon during the same months.

Viewing Tips

Urban vs. dark skies: The bright stars and V-shaped horns are visible in light-polluted areas, but clusters and deep-sky objects are best viewed from dark skies.
Binoculars & telescopes: Binoculars reveal the Hyades and Pleiades clusters beautifully. Small to mid-size telescopes allow viewing of more stars in the clusters and the Crab Nebula (M1).
Timing: For the best views, observe during new moon nights when the sky is darkest.

The Origin of Taurus

Taurus is one of the oldest constellations known, dating back to the Bronze Age. Ancient civilizations like Sumer, Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and Rome used it to track the Sun during the spring equinox, which was important for agriculture.

The Pleiades cluster and Taurus appear in cave paintings as far back as 15,000 BC, showing humanity’s long fascination with the bull in the sky.

In Greek mythology, Taurus represents Zeus as a bull, who abducted Europa and took her to Crete. Some stories even say Taurus represents Europa herself, transformed into a constellation to hide from Hera.

The Constellation Taurus from in the Great Celestial Atlases.

The Babylonians called it the “Heavenly Bull.” In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh faces the Bull of Heaven, sent by the goddess Ishtar. Some depictions show Taurus and Orion in battle, symbolizing the hero and the bull.

For the Egyptians, Taurus was a sacred bull connected to spring and renewal. When the spring equinox entered Taurus, the Sun “covered” the constellation, symbolizing the bull’s sacrifice that brought new life to the land.

Trevor Jones is an astrophotographer and member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). Through his AstroBackyard YouTube channel, he inspires beginners to start their own astrophotography journey and capture the beauty of the night sky. His work has been featured in NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD), astronomy books, and major online publications.