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How to View Taurus the Constellation

Taurus the Bull is one of 13 zodiac constellations listed by Ptolemy and possibly recognized by humans since the Stone Age. The bull symbolized many things in ancient cultures, from Zeus to virility to the coming spring, and its importance to these cultures was reflected by its placement among the stars. To find it in a dark night sky, you need no special equipment, just a star chart.

Things You'll Need

Star chart

Instructions

- 1
  Use the star chart to locate the constellation Orion. It is one of the best-known and easiest to recognize star formations. Orion's belt consists of three bright stars in a line occupying about two degrees of the sky. Four other bright stars form a large box around Orion; these represent Orion's arms and legs. Orion is best visible in the southern sky during the winter months, but it can be seen around sunset during summer.
- 2
  Look up and to the right of Orion about ten degrees. A bright reddish-orange star should be visible. Astronomers call this star Aldebaran, and it is Taurus' eye. The cluster of stars just right of Aldebaran is Taurus' head.
- 3
  Trace a line from the star representing Orion's right leg up through the star representing Orion's right arm. Continue the line until it meets another bright star. This star is the tip of Taurus's left horn. The tip of the right horn is up and to the right about eight degrees.
- 4
  Trace a line from the star representing Orion's left arm through Aldebaran. Orion's left-arm star is Betelgeuse; like Aldebaran, it has a reddish hue. Extend this imaginary line about ten degrees until a faint cluster of stars is visible. These are the Pleiades, and they are Taurus' backside.

Astronomy