Blue-white giant · Taurus

Elnath

Also known as: β Tauri (β Tau), HIP 25428

mag 1.7130 light-years

About

Elnath (β Tauri) is a blue-white giant of magnitude 1.7 in Taurus, about 130 light-years away.

Elnath is in the constellation Taurus.
Best evenings: around late 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 51° S.

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.

EyesEasy, even from town. It looks blue-white.
Binoculars (10×50)A sharp point; binoculars bring out its colour and the fainter stars around it.
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	Elnath
Designation	β Tauri (β Tau)
Hipparcos number	HIP 25428
Type	Blue-white giant
Spectral type	B7III
Colour	Blue-whiteB−V colour index −0.13
Magnitude	1.7The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	130 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1890.
Proper motion	0.18″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Taurus
Right ascension (J2000)	05h 26m 17.5s
Declination (J2000)	+28° 36′ 27″