What kind of star is Elnath?
Elnath, catalogued as Beta Tauri (β Tau), appears in the official constellation Taurus. Its apparent visual magnitude is 1.65, while its estimated distance is about 134 light-years. Astronomers classify the object as B7 III. These labels describe temperature, luminosity class or system components; they should not be read as a claim that every naked-eye point is a single isolated star.
The coordinate pair RA 05h 26m 17.51s, Dec +28° 36′ 26.8″ fixes the object’s direction on the celestial sphere for the J2000 reference epoch. Right ascension works like celestial longitude measured in hours, while declination works like latitude north or south of the celestial equator. Proper motion and improved measurements can refine catalogue positions, but these coordinates are sufficiently precise for a finder chart or planetarium search.
The name Elnath
From Arabic al-naṭḥ, “the butting” or “the one that butts,” referring to the Bull’s horn.
Modern professional catalogues retain identifiers such as the Bayer designation alongside a proper name. The International Astronomical Union standardizes which name belongs to which component—an important distinction for systems whose combined light looks like one star from Earth.
How to find Elnath
Trace Taurus from Aldebaran through the Hyades toward the long northern horn. Elnath sits at its tip near Auriga, amid rich winter Milky Way fields visible in binoculars.
Best from northern and equatorial latitudes on winter evenings; also visible across much of the south. Visibility on a particular night still depends on latitude, season, time, horizon obstructions, weather and local light pollution. Use the interactive atlas below to check the surrounding field before observing.
Interesting facts about Elnath
- Elnath sits extremely close to the modern Taurus–Auriga boundary.
- It once also carried the designation Gamma Aurigae, but modern boundaries place it solely in Taurus.
- Elnath is Taurus’s second-brightest star after Aldebaran.
- It is a useful stepping stone between Taurus, Auriga and the winter Milky Way.
- Its hot blue-white light contrasts with orange Aldebaran.
Sources and further reading
Measurements are rounded for readability. Multiple systems, variable stars and distant supergiants can have component-specific or model-dependent values.