Taurus – The Garden Astronomer

Messier 1 (NGC 1952): A Champagne Supernova in the Sky

Explore Messier 1 (Crab Nebula), a supernova remnant in Taurus, with detailed sketches, photos, and tips for observing this winter deep-sky gem.

Struve 730: Double Star in Taurus

Get a close look at STF 730, a nearly equal double star perfect for winter observing. This article includes my own telescope sketch and notes on the subtle color contrast between the faintly blue primary and white secondary. Ideal for double star enthusiasts building their observing lists.

NGC 1758: A Hidden Gem in Taurus’ Starry Landscape

NGC 1758 is a lesser-known open star cluster in the constellation Taurus. Discovered by William Herschel in 1785, it is approximately 700 million years old. Though not visible to the naked eye, it provides valuable insights into stellar evolution. Its proximity to NGC 1750 poses observational challenges.

HR 1997 (HD 38693): A Wide Binary Star in Taurus

In the winter constellation of Taurus, lies HR 1997, a fairly faint binary that you can see with any moderate backyard telescope. The good news is the pair of stars lie far apart, 75 arcseconds, from each other. The double is also known as SAO 77578, ADS 4392, HR 1997, HD 38693, HIP 27421, BD+20 1105.

Struve 742 (HD 37013): A Tight Binary Star Nestled Up to the Crab Nebula

The binary star Struve 742, also known as HD 37013, lies near the famous Crab Nebula in the constellation Taurus and lies 220 light years from Earth. The tight pair is best viewed on winter nights with a telescope. Also known as SAO 77313.

e Tauri (Struve 452): A Blue Primary with a Dim Companion in Taurus

e Tauri is a double star featuring a bright primary blue star with a dimmer secondary star in the constellation Taurus, the Bull. The magnitude +5 primary star shines blue and is classified as stellar type B3V. The dimmer viewable secondary star, at magnitude +9.8, appears white in color and is classified as a yellow-white F5V star. The two stars are separated by 9.2 arcseconds and lie 139 light years away from Earth. Also known as 30 Tau, SAO 93611, HD 23792, HR 1174, STF 452.

Struve 572: A Tight White Binary Star in Taurus

Struve 572 is a nice binary star in the constellation Taurus, the Bull, most prominent during winter evenings in the Northern Hemisphere. The pair were first observed by astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve in 1822. Modest backyard scopes should be able to split the two stars, which are only separated by 4.5 arcseconds. The double is also known as STF 572, SAO 76682, HR 1470, HD 29364.

Chi Tauri: A Double with Deep Purple Secondary

Chi Tauri is a pretty white-dark blue double star in the winter constellation Taurus. The secondary component, a yellow G2 class, actually looks purple!