Star profile

40 Tauri

Variable star

3D likeness based on its real data · class B · ~15,000 K

What is 40 Tauri

40 Tauri is in fact a double system of spectroscopic twins, both B stars in slow pulsation. Their mutual orbit takes about nine years; meanwhile one rotates every 6 days and the other in barely 1.2. Eleven distinct pulsation frequencies have been identified between them, vibrating in perfect counterpoint 641 light-years away. The light arriving tonight left when Newton was publishing his Principia.

Where it is and when to see it

40 Tauri lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is November, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 44° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 55° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 51° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 85° S.

It ranks no. 67 in brightness among the 144 stars of Taurus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Aldebaran, the brightest: it lies about 14° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 640 years ago.

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Astronomical data for 40 Tauri

Constellation: Taurus
Apparent magnitude: 5.32
Distance: 640.9 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 60.936° · Dec 5.436°
Catalogue: HIP 18957 · HD 25558

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Other stars in Taurus

Taurus has 144 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 144 stars in Taurus