Star profile

Prima Hyadum

Gamma Tauri · Taurus

3D likeness based on its real data · class G · ~5,500 K

What is Prima Hyadum

Prima Hyadum is the first star of the Hyades, the open cluster that draws the bull's face in Taurus. A yellow giant 161 light-years away, it belongs to the closest star group to our Solar System. The ancient Greeks saw in the Hyades the sisters who weep tirelessly for their fallen brother, which is why their rising in the winter sky was tied to the rainy season.

Where it is and when to see it

Prima Hyadum 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 54° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 65° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 40° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 74° S.

It ranks no. 10 in brightness among the 144 stars of Taurus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Aldebaran, the brightest: it lies about 4° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 160 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Prima Hyadum

Constellation: Taurus
Apparent magnitude: 3.65
Distance: 161.6 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 64.948° · Dec 15.628°
Catalogue: HIP 20205 · HD 27371

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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