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Elnath

Alnath, Nath, Beta Tauri, Gamma Aurigae, 112 Tauri

Blue Star in Taurus

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Proper Names	Elnath, Alnath, Nath
Bayer Designations	Beta Tauri, Gamma Aurigae
Flamsteed Number	112 Tauri
HR (BSC)	1791
HD	35497
Constellation	Taurus
Right Ascension	5h 26m 18s
Declination	+28° 36' 27"
Distance	134 light years 41 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +1.7 Absolute: -1.4
Spectral Class	B7III blue giant
Optimum Visibility	December / January
Notes	One of only two stars in the sky that are shared between two constellations, Elnath lies on the border between Taurus and Auriga, and is considered to belong to both groups of stars. The only other example of this phenomenon is Alpheratz or Alpha Andromedae, which is shared between Andromeda and Pegasus (and indeed forms one corner of the Square of Pegasus).

Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

Elnath is a blue giant 134 light years from the Earth. It lies at the tip of Taurus' northern 'horn', on the very edge of Taurus' border with Auriga, just one thirtieth of a degree within the boundaries of the Bull. Indeed, as well as its more common Bayer designation of 'Beta Tauri', the star is also occasionally classified as 'Gamma Aurigae'.

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