Orange giant · Taurus

Aldebaran

Also known as: α Tauri (α Tau), HIP 21421

mag 0.967 light-years

About

Aldebaran (α Tauri) is an orange giant of magnitude 0.9 in Taurus, about 67 light-years away.

Aldebaran is in the constellation Taurus.
Best evenings: around mid-January it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 63° S.
Star patterns: Winter Hexagon.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesA first-magnitude star, obvious even from a city. Its orange-red tint is plain to see.
Binoculars (10×50)Dazzling, with its colour stronger than to the eye.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Still a point of light at any magnification — stars are too far away to show a disc. Low in the sky, bright stars twinkle and flash colours.

Stars look the same in any instrument: brighter and sharper, but never bigger.

Proper name	Aldebaran
Designation	α Tauri (α Tau)
Hipparcos number	HIP 21421
Type	Orange giant
Spectral type	K5III
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.54
Magnitude	0.9The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	67 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1959.
Proper motion	0.20″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Taurus
Right ascension (J2000)	04h 35m 55.2s
Declination (J2000)	+16° 30′ 33″