Features Taurus (constellation)

the constellation taurus can seen naked eye. constellation lines have been added clarity.

during november, taurid meteor shower appears radiate general direction of constellation. beta taurid meteor shower occurs during months of june , july in daytime, , observed using radio techniques. between 18 , 29 october, both northern taurids , southern taurids active; though latter stream stronger. however, between november 1 , 10, 2 streams equalize.

the brightest member of constellation aldebaran, orange-hued, spectral class k5 iii giant star. name derives الدبران al-dabarān, arabic follower , fact follows pleiades during nightly motion of celestial sphere across sky. forming profile of bull s face v or k-shaped asterism of stars. outline created prominent members of hyades, nearest distinct open star cluster after ursa major moving group. in profile, aldebaran forms bull s bloodshot eye, has been described glaring menacingly @ hunter orion , constellation lies southwest. hyades span 5° of sky, can viewed in entirety binoculars or unaided eye. includes naked eye double star, theta tauri, separation of 5.6 arcminutes.

in northeastern quadrant of taurus constellation lie pleiades (m45), 1 of best known open clusters, visible naked eye. 7 prominent stars in cluster @ least visual magnitude six, , cluster named 7 sisters . however, many more stars visible modest telescope. astronomers estimate cluster has approximately 500-1,000 stars, of around 100 million years old. however, vary considerably in type. pleiades represented large, bright stars; many small brown dwarfs , white dwarfs exist. cluster estimated dissipate in 250 million years. pleiades cluster classified shapley class c , trumpler class 3 r n cluster, indicating irregularly shaped , loose, though concentrated @ center , detached star field.

in northern part of constellation northwest of pleiades lies crystal ball nebula, known catalogue designation of ngc 1514. planetary nebula of historical interest following discovery german-born english astronomer william herschel in 1790. prior time, astronomers had assumed nebulae unresolved groups of stars. however, herschel resolve star @ center of nebula surrounded nebulous cloud of type. in 1864, english astronomer william huggins used spectrum of nebula deduce nebula luminous gas, rather stars.

to west, 2 horns of bull formed beta (β) tauri , zeta (ζ) tauri; 2 star systems separated 8°. beta white, spectral class b7 iii giant star known el nath, comes arabic phrase butting , in butting horns of bull. @ magnitude 1.65, second brightest star in constellation, , shares border neighboring constellation of auriga. result, bears designation gamma aurigae. zeta tauri eclipsing binary star completes orbit every 133 days.

a degree northwest of ζ tauri crab nebula (m1), supernova remnant. expanding nebula created type ii supernova explosion, seen earth on july 4, 1054. bright enough observed during day, , mentioned in chinese historical texts. @ peak supernova reached magnitude −4, nebula magnitude 8.4 , requires telescope observe. north american peoples observed supernova, evidenced painting on new mexican canyon , various pieces of pottery depict event. however, remnant not discovered until 1731, when john bevis found it.

the star lambda (λ) tauri eclipsing binary star. system consists of spectral class b3 star being orbited less massive class a4 star. plane of orbit lies along line of sight earth. every 3.953 days system temporarily decreases in brightness 1.1 magnitudes brighter star partially eclipsed dimmer companion. 2 stars separated 0.1 astronomical units, shapes modified mutual tidal interaction. results in variation of net magnitude throughout each orbit.

central area of constellation taurus, showing aldebaran @ lower left.

located 1.8° west of epsilon (ε) tauri t tauri, prototype of class of variable stars called t tauri stars. star undergoes erratic changes in luminosity, varying between magnitude 9 13 on period of weeks or months. newly formed stellar object emerging envelope of gas , dust, has not yet become main sequence star. surrounding reflection nebula ngc 1555 illuminated t tauri, , variable in luminosity. north lies kappa tauri, visual double star consisting of 2 a7-type components. pair have separation of 5.6 arc minutes, making them challenge split naked eye.

this constellation includes part of taurus-auriga complex, or taurus dark clouds, star-forming region containing sparse, filamentary clouds of gas , dust. spans diameter of 98 light-years (30 parsecs) , contains 35,000 solar masses of material, both larger , less massive orion nebula. @ distance of 490 light-years (150 parsecs), 1 of nearest active star forming regions. located in region, 10° northeast of aldebaran, asterism ngc 1746 spanning width of 45 arcminutes.