How to Find and Identify the Zodiac Constellation Taurus

INSTRUCTIONS

Difficulty: Easy

1. • 1. • 1
          Go out on any clear winter night in the northern latitudes and look for Taurus. It is northeast of Orion the Hunter and appears to actually be charging the great Orion. It is easily recognized by its V shape and has within it the Seven Sisters or Pleiades, often mistaken for the Little Dipper. Face southeast at about 8:00 p.m. and you cannot possibly miss Orion and Taurus.
        • 2
          Look for the reddish star Aldebaren. One of the most luminous stars in the winter sky, Aldebaren is one of the bull's eyes. It sits on the lower line of the V that comprises the head of the bull. Aldebaren can be spotted by tracing a line from left to right through Orion's belt and following it up to Aldebaren, the first bright star you come to.
        • 3
          Spot the Hyades. The Hyades are what is known as an open star cluster. They are 150 million light years away, meaning the light you see from them left them 150 million years ago. The Hyades make up most of the V shape that is the face of the Zodiac constellation Taurus and they seem to include Aldebaren, but that bright star is actually much closer to Earth than the Hyades and not part of the cluster.
        • 4
          Perceive the Pleiades. Taurus has not one but two open star clusters in it. The Pleiades are about the distance of your upheld fist from Aldebaren, riding on what would be the back of the heavenly bull. They are shaped like a small dipper and appear to the naked eye to be seven in number. In reality there are hundreds of stars in this cluster. Composed of relatively "young" blue stars, the Pleiades is estimated to be around 100 million years old.
        • 5
          Extend your view out from the V to the tips of the horns. From each end of the face of the bull's V is a star that represents the ends of the horns of Taurus. These two stars complete the constellation. If you did not know that Taurus was a bull you would see it as a giant Y, leaning towards the left.