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Taurus the bull is one of the oldest constellations; records of these stars being seen as a bull go back at least 6,000 years. This is hardly surprising, as Taurus is not only a zodiac constellation through which the sun and planets pass, but is also one of the brightest and most spectacular star groups in the heavens. The two most arresting features of Taurus are two large star clusters: the bright small clump of the Pleiades (usually drawn as the tuft of hair on the bull's tail), and the larger Hyades (marking the base of the bull's horns), whose "V" shape surrounds Taurus's brightest star, the orange giant Aldebaran. The tips of the long horns are marked by the bluish stars El Nath and Zeta Tauri, both easily visible to the unaided eye. To spot Taurus in the winter months, look high overhead as evening begins; the two star clusters are a dead giveaway.
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Bulls were common religious icons in the ancient world, and Taurus may date farther back yet, to the ice age, when these animals were a frequent subject for cave art. The more modern mythology of Taurus pits this powerful animal in combat with the mighty hunter Orion, whose stars can be seen just to the southeast, club and shield raised for eternal combat with Taurus.

To find out about celestial objects you can find in our featured constellation, go to Deep Sky Objects.


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