There are thousands of constellations throughout the entire sky. Today we are going to talk about one of the constellations of the zodiac which is represented by the ox or the bull. It's about the taurus constellation. This constellation can be seen quite imposingly in the starry sky and is very close to the constellations of Scorpio and Leo. In this region where this constellation is located we also locate two star clusters that are quite well known.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the constellation of Taurus.
Where is the constellation Taurus?
If we want to find this constellation across the sky, we must first look for the constellation Aries. This constellation is located to the west and the constellation Gemini was to the east. If we find these two constellations, we can see that between the space between one and the other is the constellation Taurus.
Together with the constellations of Scorpio and Leo it is one of the oldest known. For the Babylonians it was a very important constellation since when the sun crossed the constellation of Taurus they began to start their calendar. To the south of this constellation we can locate Orion and north of Perseus (link).
Key features
This constellation is crossed by the galactic equator. This galactic Ecuador is the one in charge of dividing the Milky Way in two. On the one hand, we have the celestial equator and on the other hand we have the elliptical. This or represent the trajectory of the stars in the sky.
Another of the main characteristics of this constellation is that it is found in two open star clusters and is closer to our planet. These two star clusters have their own names. They are the Pleiades and the Hiades. We can observe this constellation with relative ease using binoculars or a telescope. For more beginners we recommend the telescopes of the range skywatcher. They are quite easy to recognize as they can be seen clearly in space.
Main stars of the constellation Taurus
It is a constellation with a great variety of stars, clusters and nebulae. Having a large star cluster, we must know how to differentiate which are the most popular. We are going to make a list of the best known stars and their main characteristics:
- Aldebaran: its main characteristic is that it is the brightest star in the entire constellation. It has a color between red and orange that is quite intense. This is what makes it quite easy to recognize. It is usually accompanied by another star that has less brightness.
- Alcyone: it is the brightest star in the Pleiades cluster. Of all the stars in the clusters it is the youngest.
- Tauri, double starry: it receives this name because at first glance they can be seen as if they were two very close stars. For this reason, it is also called binary stars and they are white.
- Tauri, plant star of the spiral sequence: With this long name we are talking about a type of spectral star A that is in a phase of evolution. This star originates from the fusion of hydrogen into helium. This chemical reaction occurs in the same way as in the sun.
Clusters and nebulae
Now we are going to talk about the clusters and nebulae that this constellation of Taurus contains. We mentioned earlier that it has two types of clusters: Pleiades and Hiades. Pleiades is a group of 7 stars that are located in this constellation and that are closest to Earth. They are considered the most visible of all the stars in this constellation and are very old. Their fame is due to the fact that they have spread through history and have been widely recognized for appearing in numerous legends and myths.
The Hiades are another recognized and oldest cluster of stars in space. It is estimated that they are around 625 million years old.
As for the nebulae, there are also some within this constellation. The first is known as the Crab Nebula. It is a nebula that has been formed by the rest that left a supernova. The discovery was made thanks to Arab and Chinese astronomers in the year 1.054. In the center of this nebula we can see two stars but with less brightness. In the studies that have been carried out to better understand the characteristics of this nebula, it was found that it emits powerful electromagnetic radiation.
Another of the nebulae that the constellation of Taurus has is called Reflection Nebula. Its main characteristic is that it has a blue color and a chemical composition of gas, iron, hydrogen, oxygen, silicon, carbon and stellar dust.
Taurus mythology and astrology
About the constellations in the sky there are many myths and stories. According to Greek mythology, Taurus represents the minotaur. This minotaur is nothing more than Zeus transformed into a bull. In legend it is said that Zeus is deeply in love with Europa and decides to transform himself into a beautiful and meek bull. Europa, seeing him, gets on it and Zeus takes advantage of the situation to be able to kidnap her and sink into the sea. It is there where it owns it and they father 3 children called Minos, Radamantis and Sarpedón.
From the moment in which mythology tells of the existence of these children is when Minos represents the constellation of Taurus. On the other hand, in Egyptian mythology this constellation is represented as the gods Osiris and Isis. These two gods are represented with a body half bull half cow.
This constellation is the second in the zodiac and its ruler is the planet Venus. People born under the Taurus sign are more sensitive. They are said to be people who can be fully trusted and are often excellent friends and lovers. They are also very patient people and are characterized by having physical and intellectual strength.
As you can see, the constellation of Taurus is quite well known throughout the world. I hope that with this information you can learn more about it.