Caroline’s Cluster is a bright open star cluster located south of the celestial equator in the constellation Canis Major (the Great Dog). With an apparent… Read More »Caroline’s Cluster (NGC 2360): A Winter Sky Gem
The Southern Pleiades (Theta Carinae Cluster) is a bright, large open star cluster located 486 light-years away in the southern constellation of Carina (the Keel).… Read More »Southern Pleiades (Theta Carinae Cluster, IC 2602)
The Hyades is a bright, large open cluster of stars located 153 light-years away in the constellation Taurus. It is the nearest open star cluster… Read More »Hyades
Hind’s Variable Nebula is a variable nebula located 400 light-years away in the constellation Taurus. The nebula is about 4 light-years across. It is illuminated… Read More »Hind’s Variable Nebula (NGC 1555)
Orion’s Belt is a prominent asterism formed by three stars in the constellation Orion. The three bright blue stars – Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka –… Read More »Orion’s Belt
The Winter Hexagon, also known as the Winter Circle, is a prominent winter asterism formed by seven stars that dominate the northern winter sky. These are… Read More »Winter Hexagon
Aldebaran, Alpha Tauri, also known as the Eye of Taurus, is an orange giant star located at a distance of 65 light years from Earth.
It is the brightest star in Taurus constellation and the 14th brightest star in the night sky. Aldebaran has a luminosity 518 times that of the Sun (153 times in visible light).
The name Aldebaran (pronounced /ælˈdɛbərən/) comes from the Arabic word al-dabarān, meaning “the follower.” The name refers to the Pleiades cluster (Messier 45), which the star appears to be following across the sky.
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