View source for Taurus (constellation)

{{Short description|Zodiac constellation straddling the celestial equator}}
{{About|the astronomical constellation|the astrological sign|Taurus (astrology)|other uses|Taurus (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox constellation
| name = Taurus
| abbreviation = Tau<ref name="iau" />
| genitive = Tauri<ref name="iau" />
| pronounce = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɔː|r|ə|s}} {{respell|TOR|əs}};<br/>
genitive {{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɔr|aɪ}} {{respell|TOR|eye}}<ref name="iau" /><ref name="merriam-webster" />
| symbolism = the [[Bull]]<ref name="iau" />
| RA = {{RA|4.9}}<ref name="jha33_113_313" />
| dec = {{DEC|19}}<ref name="jha33_113_313" />
| family = [[Zodiac]]
| quadrant = NQ1
| areatotal = 797
| arearank = 17th
| numbermainstars = 19
| numberbfstars = 132
| numberbrightstars = 4
| numbernearbystars = 3
| brighteststarname = [[Aldebaran]] (α Tau)
| starmagnitude = 0.85
| neareststarname = [[WISE 0410+1502]]
| stardistancely = 30.72
| stardistancepc = 9.42
| numbermessierobjects = 2
| meteorshowers =
  {{plainlist |
* [[Taurids]]
* [[Beta Taurids]]
  }}
| bordering =
  {{plainlist |
* [[Auriga (constellation)|Auriga]]
* [[Perseus (constellation)|Perseus]]
* [[Aries (constellation)|Aries]]
* [[Cetus (constellation)|Cetus]]
* [[Eridanus (constellation)|Eridanus]]
* [[Orion (constellation)|Orion]]
* [[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]]
  }}
| latmax = [[North Pole|90]]
| latmin = [[60th parallel south|60]]
| month = January
| notes = 
}}

'''Taurus''' (Latin, '[[Bull]]') is one of the [[constellation]]s of the [[zodiac]] and is located in the [[northern celestial hemisphere]]. Taurus is a large and prominent constellation in the [[Northern Hemisphere]]'s winter sky. It is one of the oldest constellations, dating back to the [[Early Bronze Age]] at least, when it marked the location of the Sun during the spring [[equinox]]. Its importance to the agricultural calendar influenced [[sacred bull|various bull figures]] in the mythologies of Ancient [[Sumerian religion|Sumer]], [[Akkadian religion|Akkad]], [[Assyrian religion|Assyria]], [[Babylonian religion|Babylon]], [[Ancient Egyptian religion|Egypt]], [[Ancient Greek religion|Greece]], and [[Religion in ancient Rome|Rome]]. Its traditional astrological symbol is [[Image:Taurus symbol (fixed width).svg|20px]] (♉︎), which resembles a bull's head.

A number of features exist that are of interest to astronomers. Taurus hosts two of the nearest [[open cluster]]s to Earth, the [[Pleiades]] and the [[Hyades (star cluster)|Hyades]], both of which are visible to the naked eye. At first magnitude, the [[red giant]] [[Aldebaran]] is the brightest star in the constellation. In the northeast part of Taurus is [[Messier 1]], more commonly known as the Crab Nebula, a [[supernova remnant]] containing the [[Crab Pulsar]]. One of the closest regions of active star formation, the Taurus-Auriga complex, crosses into the northern part of the constellation. The [[variable star]] [[T Tauri]] is the prototype of a class of [[pre-main-sequence star]]s.

==Characteristics==
Taurus is a large and prominent constellation in the [[Northern Hemisphere]]'s winter sky, between [[Aries (constellation)|Aries]] to the west and [[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]] to the east; to the north lies [[Perseus (constellation)|Perseus]] and [[Auriga (constellation)|Auriga]], to the southeast [[Orion (constellation)|Orion]], to the south [[Eridanus (constellation)|Eridanus]], and to the southwest [[Cetus (constellation)|Cetus]]. In late November-early December, Taurus reaches opposition (furthest point from the Sun) and is visible the entire night. By late March, it is setting at sunset and completely disappears behind the Sun's glare from May to July.<ref name="Garfinkle 1997" />

This constellation forms part of the zodiac and hence is intersected by the [[ecliptic]]. This circle across the [[celestial sphere]] forms the apparent path of the Sun as the Earth completes its annual orbit. As the orbital plane of the Moon and the planets lie near the ecliptic, they can usually be found in the constellation Taurus during some part of each year.<ref name="Garfinkle 1997" /> The [[galactic plane]] of the [[Milky Way]] intersects the northeast corner of the constellation and the [[galactic anticenter]] is located near the border between Taurus and Auriga. Taurus is the only constellation crossed by all three of the galactic equator, celestial equator, and ecliptic. A ring-like galactic structure known as [[Gould's Belt]] passes through the constellation.<ref name="crossen_rhemann2004" />

The recommended three-letter abbreviation for the constellation, as adopted by the [[International Astronomical Union]] in 1922, is "Tau".<ref name="pa30_469" /> The official constellation boundaries, as set by Belgian astronomer [[Eugène Joseph Delporte|Eugène Delporte]] in 1930, are defined by a polygon of 26 segments. In the [[equatorial coordinate system]], the [[right ascension]] coordinates of these borders lie between {{RA|03|23.4}} and {{RA|05|53.3}}, while the [[declination]] coordinates are between 31.10° and −1.35°.<ref name="boundary" /> Because a small part of the constellation lies to the south of the [[celestial equator]], this can not be a completely [[circumpolar constellation]] at any latitude.<ref name="seeds2007" />

==Features==

=== Stars ===
{{See also|List of stars in Taurus}}
[[File:TaurusCC.jpg|thumb|left|The constellation Taurus as it can be seen by the naked eye.<ref name="allthesky" /> The constellation lines have been added for clarity.]]
There are four stars above [[apparent magnitude|magnitude 3]] in Taurus.

The brightest member of this constellation is Aldebaran, an orange-hued, [[spectral class]] K5&nbsp;III [[giant star]].<ref name="Burnham" /> Its name derives from '''{{lang|ar|[[wikt:الدبران|الدبران]]}}''' ''{{transliteration|ar|al-dabarān}}'', [[Arabic language|Arabic]] for "the follower", probably from the fact that it follows the [[Pleiades]] during the nightly motion of the  [[celestial sphere]] across the sky.{{sfn|Chartrand|1983|p=188}}<ref name="schaff" />{{sfn|Allen|1963|p=383}} Forming the profile of a Bull's face is a ''V'' or ''K''-shaped [[Asterism (astronomy)|asterism]] of stars. This outline is created by prominent members of the [[Hyades (star cluster)|Hyades]],<ref name="Olcott" /> the nearest distinct open [[star cluster]] after the [[Ursa Major Moving Group]].<ref name="inglis2004" /> In this profile, Aldebaran forms the bull's bloodshot eye, which has been described as "glaring menacingly at the hunter Orion",<ref name="saski_boddy2003" /> a constellation that lies just to the southeast. Aldebaran has around 116% the mass of the Sun.<ref name="Farr2018">{{cite journal | bibcode=2018ApJ...865L..20F | title=Aldebaran b's Temperate Past Uncovered in Planet Search Data | journal=The Astrophysical Journal | volume=865 | issue=2 | pages=L20 | last1=Farr | first1=Will M. | last2=Pope | first2=Benjamin J. S. | last3=Davies | first3=Guy R. | last4=North | first4=Thomas S. H. | last5=White | first5=Timothy R. | last6=Barrett | first6=Jim W. | last7=Miglio | first7=Andrea | last8=Lund | first8=Mikkel N. | last9=Antoci | first9=Victoria | last10=Fredslund Andersen | first10=Mads | last11=Grundahl | first11=Frank | last12=Huber | first12=Daniel | year=2018 | doi=10.3847/2041-8213/aadfde | arxiv=1802.09812 | s2cid=56049041 | doi-access=free }}</ref> It also hosts a candidate exoplanet.<ref name="Farr2018" />

The Hyades span about 5° of the sky, so that they can only be viewed in their entirety with binoculars or the unaided eye.{{sfn|Ridpath|Tirion|2003|p=55}} It includes a naked eye double star, [[Theta Tauri]] (the proper name of Theta<sup>2</sup> Tauri is ''Chamukuy''),<ref name="IAU-LSN" /> with a separation of 5.6&nbsp;[[arcminutes]].<ref name="kaler_theta_tauri" />

[[File:Triple Stellar Treat (iotw2301a).jpg|thumb|[[HP Tauri]], a [[T Tauri variable star]] and triple system]]
In the northwestern quadrant of the Taurus constellation lie the Pleiades ([[Messier object|M45]]), one of the best known open clusters, easily visible to the naked eye. The seven most prominent stars in this cluster are at least visual [[apparent magnitude|magnitude]] six, and so the cluster is also named the "Seven Sisters". However, many more stars are visible with even a modest telescope.<ref name="marx_pfau_lamble1992" /> Astronomers estimate that the cluster has approximately 500–1,000 stars, all of which are around 100 million years old. However, they vary considerably in type. The Pleiades themselves are represented by large, bright stars; also many small [[brown dwarf]]s and [[white dwarf]]s exist. The cluster is estimated to dissipate in another 250 million years.<ref name="objects" /> 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.{{sfn|Levy|2005|p=94}}

To the east, the two horns of the bull are formed by [[Beta Tauri|Beta (β) Tauri]] and [[Zeta Tauri|Zeta (ζ) Tauri]]; two star systems that are separated by 8°. 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.{{sfn|Chartrand|1983|p=184}} At magnitude 1.65, it is the second brightest star in the constellation, and shares the border with the neighboring constellation of Auriga. As a result, it also bears the designation Gamma Aurigae. Zeta Tauri (the proper name is ''Tianguan''<ref name="IAU-LSN" />) is an [[eclipsing binary]] star that completes an orbit every 133 days.<ref name="Burnham" />

The star [[Lambda Tauri|Lambda (λ) Tauri]] is an eclipsing binary star. This system consists of a spectral class B3 star being orbited by a less massive class A4 star. The [[orbital plane (astronomy)|plane of their orbit]] lies almost along the line of sight to the Earth. 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. The two stars are separated by only 0.1 [[astronomical unit]]s, so their shapes are modified by mutual tidal interaction. This results in a variation of their net magnitude throughout each orbit.<ref name="apj263_289" />

[[File:Central area of constellation Taurus.jpg|thumb|Central area of constellation Taurus, showing Aldebaran at the lower left]]

Located about 1.8° west of [[Epsilon Tauri|Epsilon (ε) Tauri]] is [[T Tauri]], the prototype of a class of [[variable star]]s called [[T Tauri star]]s. This star undergoes erratic changes in luminosity, varying between [[visual magnitude|magnitude]] 9 to 13 over a period of weeks or months.<ref name="Garfinkle 1997" /> This is a newly formed stellar object that is just emerging from its envelope of gas and dust, but has not yet become a [[main sequence]] star.<ref name="araa27_1_351" /> The surrounding [[reflection nebula]] [[NGC 1555]] is illuminated by T Tauri, and thus is also variable in luminosity.<ref name="noao_1555" /> To the north lies [[Kappa Tauri]], a visual [[double star]] consisting of two A7-type components. The pair have a separation of just 5.6 arc minutes, making them a challenge to split with the naked eye.{{sfn|O'Meara|2011|p=475}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Brightest stars of Taurus
!Proper name
!Designation
!Light years
!Apparent magnitude
|-
|Aldebaran
|α Tauri
|65
|0.87
|-
|Elnath
|β Tauri
|131
|1.65
|-
|Alcyone A
|η Tauri
|368
|2.85
|-
|Tianguan
|ζ Tauri
|417
|2.97
|-
|Chamukuy
|θ Tauri
|149
|3.40
|-
|Sadr al Tauri
|λ Tauri
|370
|3.41
|-
|Ain
|ε Tauri
|155
|3.53
|-
|Omicron Tauri
|ο Tauri
|211
|3.61
|-
|Atlas A
|27 Tauri
|380
|3.62
|-
|Prima Hyadum
|γ Tauri
|154
|3.65
|-
|}

===Deep-sky objects===

In the northern part of the constellation to the northeast of the Pleiades lies the Crystal Ball Nebula, known by its catalogue designation of [[NGC 1514]]. This [[planetary nebula]] is of historical interest following its discovery by German-born English astronomer [[William Herschel]] in 1790. Prior to that time, astronomers had assumed that [[nebula]]e were simply unresolved groups of stars. However, Herschel could clearly resolve a star at the center of the nebula that was surrounded by a nebulous cloud of some type. In 1864, English astronomer [[William Huggins]] used the spectrum of this nebula to deduce that the nebula is a luminous gas, rather than stars.{{sfn|O'Meara|2011|pp=74–77}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float: left; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 1em;"
|+ Brightest NGC objects in Taurus<!-- Magnitude 11 or brighter --><ref name="Gilmour2012"/>
|-
! [[NGC objects|Identifier]] || [[Visual magnitude|Mag.]] || [[Astronomical objects|Object type]]
|-
| [[NGC 1514]] ||style="text-align:right;"| 10.9 || [[planetary nebula]]
|-
| [[NGC 1647]] ||style="text-align:right;"| 6.4 || [[open cluster]]
|-
| [[NGC 1746]] ||style="text-align:right;"| 6 || [[Asterism (astronomy)|asterism]]{{sfn|O'Meara|2011|p=84}}
|-
| [[NGC 1817]] ||style="text-align:right;"| 7.7 || open cluster
|-
| [[NGC 1952]] ||style="text-align:right;"| 8.4 || [[supernova remnant]] (M1)
|}

North-west of ζ Tauri by 1.15 degrees is the [[Crab Nebula]] (M1), a supernova remnant. This expanding [[nebula]] was created by a [[Type II supernova]] explosion, which was seen from Earth on July 4, 1054. It was bright enough to be observed during the day and is mentioned in Chinese historical texts. At its peak, the supernova reached magnitude −4, but the nebula is currently magnitude 8.4 and requires a telescope to observe.<ref name="hawkins2002" /><ref name="covington2002" /> [[indigenous peoples of the Americas|North American peoples]] also observed the supernova, as evidenced from a painting on a New Mexican canyon and various pieces of pottery that depict the event. However, the remnant itself was not discovered until 1731, when [[John Bevis]] found it.<ref name="objects" />

[[File:Nebula in Taurus.jpg|thumb|[[IRAS 05437+2502]], a nebula]]

This constellation includes part of the Taurus-Auriga complex, or Taurus dark clouds, a star-forming region containing sparse, filamentary clouds of gas and dust. This spans a diameter of {{Convert|98|ly|pc|abbr=off|lk=on}} and contains 35,000&nbsp;[[solar mass]]es of material, which is both larger and less massive than the [[Orion Nebula]].<ref name="schulz2005" /> At a distance of {{Convert|490|ly|pc|abbr=off}}, this is one of the nearest active star forming regions.<ref name="babu_feigelson1996" /> Located in this region, about 10° to the northeast of Aldebaran, is an asterism [[NGC 1746]] spanning a width of 45 [[arcminute]]s.{{sfn|O'Meara|2011|p=84}}

=== Meteor showers ===
During November, the [[Taurid]] [[meteor shower]] appears to radiate from the general direction of this constellation. The [[Beta Taurid]] meteor shower occurs during the months of June and July in the daytime, and is normally observed using radio techniques.<ref name="lewis1997" /> Between 18 and 29 October, both the [[Northern Taurids]] and the [[Southern Taurids]] are active; though the latter stream is stronger.<ref name="jenniskens2012" /> However, between November 1 and 10, the two streams equalize.<ref name="jenniskens2012" />

==History and mythology==

{{See also|Bull (mythology)}}
{{multiple image
| align             = left
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 250
| image1            = Constellation Taureau_-_al-Sufi.jpg
| caption1          = Taurus as depicted in the astronomical treatise ''[[Book of Fixed Stars]]'' by the Persian astronomer [[Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi]], c. 964
| image2            = Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - Taurus.jpg
| caption2          = Taurus as depicted in ''[[Urania's Mirror]]'', a set of constellation cards published in London c. 1825
}}

The identification of the [[constellation]] of Taurus with a bull is very old, certainly dating to the [[Chalcolithic]], and perhaps even to the [[Upper Paleolithic]]. 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.<ref name="arxiv0810.1592" /><ref name="whitehouse20000809" /> The name "seven sisters" has been used for the Pleiades in the languages of many cultures, including indigenous groups of [[Australia]], [[North America]] and [[Siberia]]. This suggests that the name may have a common ancient origin.<ref name="brown2008" />

Taurus marked the point of [[March equinox|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.<ref name="noonan05" /> The Pleiades were closest to the Sun at vernal equinox around the [[23rd century BC]]. In [[Babylonian astronomy]], the constellation was listed in the [[MUL.APIN]] as  {{lang|sux-Latn|GU<sub>4</sub>.AN.NA}}, "The [[Bull of Heaven]]".<ref name="rogers1998" /> Although it has been claimed that "when the Babylonians first set up their zodiac, the vernal equinox lay in Taurus,"<ref name=wilson1997/> there is a claim that the MUL.APIN tablets indicate<ref name=rogers1998/> that the vernal equinox was marked by the Babylonian constellation known as "the hired man" (the modern Aries).<ref name=hartner1965/>

In the [[Akkadian language|Old Babylonian]] ''[[Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the goddess [[Ishtar]] sends Taurus, the [[Bull of Heaven]], to kill Gilgamesh for spurning her advances.<ref name="hines2002" /> 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. Some locate Gilgamesh as the neighboring constellation of Orion, facing Taurus as if in combat,<ref name="ns120_36" /> while others identify him with the sun whose rising on the equinox vanquishes the constellation. In early Mesopotamian art, the Bull of Heaven was closely associated with [[Inanna]], the [[Mesopotamian religion|Sumerian goddess]] of sexual love, fertility, and warfare. 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.<ref name="white2008" />

The same iconic representation of the Heavenly Bull was depicted in the [[Dendera zodiac]], an [[Egypt]]ian bas-relief carving in a ceiling that depicted the [[celestial hemisphere]] using a [[planisphere]]. In these ancient cultures, the orientation of the horns was portrayed as upward or backward. This differed from the later Greek depiction where the horns pointed forward.<ref name="jbaa108_1_9" /> To the Egyptians, the constellation Taurus was a sacred bull that was associated with the renewal of life in spring. When the spring equinox entered Taurus, the constellation would become covered by the Sun in the western sky as spring began. This "sacrifice" led to the renewal of the land.<ref name="ptak1998" /> 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]].{{sfn|Allen|1963|p=381}}

In [[Greek mythology]], Taurus was identified with [[Zeus]], who assumed the form of a magnificent white bull to abduct [[Europa (consort of Zeus)|Europa]], a legendary Phoenician princess. In illustrations of Greek mythology, only the front portion of this constellation is depicted; this was sometimes explained as Taurus being partly submerged as he carried Europa out to sea. A second Greek myth portrays Taurus as [[Io (mythology)|Io]], a mistress of Zeus. To hide his lover from his wife [[Hera]], Zeus changed Io into the form of a heifer.<ref name="ridpath2018" /> Greek mythographer [[Acusilaus]] marks the bull Taurus as the same that formed the myth of the [[Cretan Bull]], one of [[Labors of Hercules|The Twelve Labors]] of [[Heracles]].<ref name="palaephatus_stern1996" />

Taurus became an important object of worship among the [[Druid]]s. Their Tauric religious festival was held while the Sun passed through the constellation.<ref name="noonan05" /> 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]]. Aldebaran represents the bear, with the remainder of the stars in the Hyades being dogs that are holding the beast at bay.<ref name=penprase2010/>

In [[Buddhism]], legends hold that [[Gautama Buddha]] was born when the [[full moon]] was in [[Vaisakha]], or Taurus.<ref name="grundwedel1901" /> 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.<ref name="mr2007" />

In 1990, due to the [[precession of the equinoxes]], the position of the Sun on the first day of summer (June 21) crossed the IAU boundary of Gemini into Taurus.<ref name="griffith" /> The Sun will slowly move through Taurus at a rate of 1° east every 72 years until approximately 2600 AD, at which point it will be in Aries on the first day of summer{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}.

===Astrology===
{{Main|Taurus (astrology)}}

{{As of|2008}}, the Sun appears in the constellation Taurus from May 13 to June 21.<ref name="comins_kaufman2008" /> In [[tropical astrology]], the Sun is considered to be in the sign [[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]] from April 20 to May 20.<ref name="sharp2005" />

===Space exploration===
The [[space probe]] ''[[Pioneer 10]]'' is moving in the direction of this constellation, though it will not be nearing any of the stars in this constellation for many thousands of years, by which time its batteries will be long dead.<ref name=NASA20030225/>

===Solar eclipse of May 29, 1919===
Several stars in the Hyades star cluster, including [[Kappa Tauri]], were photographed during the total [[solar eclipse of May 29, 1919]], by the expedition of [[Arthur Eddington]] in [[Príncipe]] and others in [[Sobral, Ceará|Sobral, Brazil]], that [[tests of general relativity|confirmed]] [[Albert Einstein]]'s prediction of the [[gravitational lens|bending of light]] around the [[Sun]] according to his [[general theory of relativity]] which he published in 1915.<ref name="Eddington1920"/>

==See also==
* [[Pleiades in folklore and literature]]
* [[Taurus (Chinese astronomy)]]

<!-- ==Notes==
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==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="iau">{{cite web | title=The constellations | publisher=IAU | url=http://www.iau.org/public_press/themes/constellations/ | access-date=2010-02-09 | archive-date=2009-05-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512205512/http://www.iau.org/public_press/themes/constellations/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="pa30_469">{{cite journal | last=Russell | first=Henry Norris | title=The new international symbols for the constellations | journal=[[Popular Astronomy (US magazine)|Popular Astronomy]] | volume=30 | pages=469–71 | bibcode=1922PA.....30..469R | year=1922 }}</ref>

<ref name="merriam-webster">{{cite web | title=Taurus | work=Merriam-Webster Online | url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taurus | access-date=2010-02-09 }}</ref>

<ref name="Garfinkle 1997">{{cite book | first = Robert A. | last = Garfinkle | year = 1997 | title = Star-hopping: your visa to viewing the Universe | publisher = Cambridge University Press | pages = 66–67, 77 | isbn = 978-0-521-59889-7 }}</ref>

<ref name="boundary">{{cite web | title=Taurus, constellation boundary | work=The Constellations | publisher=International Astronomical Union | url=http://www.iau.org/public/constellations/#tau | access-date=2012-01-02 | archive-date=2013-06-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605024208/http://www.iau.org/public/constellations/#tau | url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="lewis1997">{{cite book | first=John S. | last=Lewis | year=1997 | title=Rain of iron and ice: the very real threat of comet and asteroid bombardment | pages=48–49 | publisher=Basic Books | isbn = 978-0-201-15494-8 }}</ref>

<ref name="Burnham">{{cite book | author = Robert Burnham | date = 15 April 2013 | title = Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Volume Three: An Observer's Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System | publisher = Courier Corporation | pages = | isbn = 978-0-486-31803-5 | oclc = 1028860438 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3drCAgAAQBAJ}}</ref>

<ref name="allthesky">{{cite web | url=http://www.allthesky.com/constellations/taurus.html | title=Taurus, the bull | publisher=Allthesky.com | access-date=2012-05-16 }}</ref>

<ref name="mr2007">{{cite book | title=Encyclopedia of observances, holidays and celebrations from MobileReference | publisher=MobileReference | year=2007 | isbn=978-1-60501-177-6 | page=505 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VhTa1Eiq7oC&pg=PT505 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

<ref name="crossen_rhemann2004">{{cite book | first1=Craig | last1=Crossen | first2=Gerald | last2=Rhemann | title=Sky vistas: astronomy for binoculars and richest-field telescopes | publisher=Springer | year=2004 | isbn = 978-3-211-00851-5 | page=[https://archive.org/details/springer_10.1007-978-3-7091-0626-6/page/n157 133] | url=https://archive.org/details/springer_10.1007-978-3-7091-0626-6 }}</ref>

<ref name="seeds2007">{{cite book | first1=Michael A. | last1=Seeds | title=Foundations of Astronomy | edition=10th | publisher=Cengage Learning | year=2007 | isbn = 978-0-495-38724-4 | page=19 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b1n3Q3yRDVMC&pg=PA19 }}</ref>

<ref name="kaler_theta_tauri">{{cite web | first1=James B. | last1=Kaler | title=Theta-1 Tauri | work=Stars | publisher=University of Illinois | url=http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/theta1tau.html | access-date=2012-05-22 }}</ref>

<ref name="schaff">{{cite book | first=Fred | last=Schaaf | year=2008 | title=The brightest stars: discovering the Universe through the sky's most brilliant stars | publisher=John Wiley and Sons | isbn = 978-0-471-70410-2 | page=197 }}</ref>

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<ref name="inglis2004">{{cite book | first=Michael D. | last=Inglis | year=2004 | title=The Observer's guide to the northern Milky Way | publisher=Springer | isbn = 978-1-85233-709-4 | page=184 }}</ref>

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}}

==Book references==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book | last=Allen | first=Richard Hinckley | year=1963 | orig-year=1899 | title=Star names: their lore and meaning | edition=corrected | publisher=Dover Publications | isbn=978-0-486-21079-7 | page=[https://archive.org/details/starnamestheirlo00alle/page/383 383] | url=https://archive.org/details/starnamestheirlo00alle/page/383 }}
* {{cite book
 | last1=Chartrand | first1=Mark R.
 | title=Skyguide: A Field Guide for Amateur Astronomers
 | year=1983 | isbn=0-307-13667-1
 | publisher=Golden Books Publishing Company
}}
* {{cite book |title = Deep Sky Objects |last = Levy |first = David H. |publisher = Prometheus Books |year = 2005 |isbn = 978-1-59102-361-6 |url = https://archive.org/details/deepskyobjects00davi }}
* {{cite book | last1=O'Meara | first1=Stephen James | title=Deep-sky companions: the secret deep | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2011 | isbn = 978-0-521-19876-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v859bKO0A4gC&pg=PA84 }}
* {{cite book  | last1=Ridpath | first1=Ian | last2=Tirion | first2=Wil | edition=6th | title=Monthly sky guide | year=2003 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn = 978-0-521-53306-5 }}
** {{cite book | last1=Ridpath | first1=Ian | last2=Tirion | first2=Wil | author-link=Ian Ridpath | author2-link=Wil Tirion | year=2017 | title=Stars and Planets Guide | isbn = 978-0-008-23927-5 | publisher=William Collins | edition=5th | location=London }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons and category|Taurus (constellation)|Taurus (constellation)}}
{{EB1911 poster|Taurus}}
* [http://www.allthesky.com/constellations/taurus/constell.html The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Taurus]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/871930.stm BBC article on the possibility of Taurus being represented in Lascaux]
* [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/taurus.html Star Tales&nbsp;– Taurus]
* [https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/category/vpc-taxonomy-017060 Warburg Institute Iconographic Database (medieval and early modern images of Taurus)]
* [http://astrojan.nhely.hu/taurus.htm The clickable Taurus]

{{Stars of Taurus}}
{{Constellations}}
{{Zodiac}}
{{Portal bar|Astronomy|Stars|Outer space}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Sky|04|00|00|+|15|00|00|10}}
{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taurus (Constellation)}}
[[Category:Taurus (constellation)| ]]
[[Category:Constellations]]
[[Category:Equatorial constellations]]
[[Category:Constellations listed by Ptolemy]]
[[Category:Spring equinox]]
[[Category:Cattle in culture]]
[[Category:Bulls]]