Aldebaran. A prominent star within the Tau constellation, Aldebaran occupies a central and relatively bright location in the evening sky. This fascinating celestial body is a reddish-orange supergiant known for its distinctive crescent shape – a remarkabl

Aldebaran's recognizable position arises primarily from its exceptionally high altitude, located relatively far above the horizon during our night sky. In the vast expanse of the Milky Way, it stands out as a powerful and relatively distant source of light – a beacon visible to most of the world. Sirius, a smaller and faintest star, is known as the brightest star of the night. This star's striking resemblance to a crescent moon draws observers who might have been looking towards the right side of the sky. Its proximity to the center of our Milky Way allows it a significant vantage point.

Considering its relative age and scale within the observable universe, Aldebaran holds symbolic value – often associated with courage and hope. Perhaps, for a soul needing to find their way forward, this star's unwavering presence symbolizes a steady, hopeful orientation in the darkness. It is a tangible reminder of the immense power contained within our world, a constant element in a world of limitless stars and planets.

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How to see it

Aldebaran has a visual magnitude of about 0.87: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.

Sky position

Equatorial coordinates for Aldebaran: right ascension 4h 35m 55s, declination +16° 30′ 33″ (J2000), in the region of the Taurus constellation (IAU figure Tau).

Taurus — Explore by constellation

Catalog context

Aldebaran. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation 87Alp Tau, HIP 21421, HD 29139, Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-21421. In the SkyKeepsake Taurus (Tau) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.

Catalog identifiers

Gaia

Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-21421

HIP

21421

HD

29139

gaia_dr3

HYG-HIP-21421

Bayer / Flamsteed

87Alp Tau

Also known as

• 87Alp Tau
• Gaia DR3 TOP 5M HYG-HIP-21421
• Gl 171.1A
• HD 29139
• HIP 21421
• HYG-HIP-21421

Observed properties

Visual magnitude

0.87