Star profile

Ain

Epsilon Tauri · Taurus

3D likeness based on its real data · class K · ~4,200 K

What is Ain

Ain is an orange class-K giant burning 146 light-years away in Taurus, part of the visual cluster of the Hyades though not physically bound to it. Its Arabic name means «the eye», and it represents the right eye of the bull in the old sky-drawing, beside reddish Aldebaran. It is one of the first stars around which an extrasolar giant planet was confirmed, which makes it more than a pretty point: a stellar gaze with company of its own.

Where it is and when to see it

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

From London it culminates about 58° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 68° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 37° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 71° S.

It ranks no. 7 in brightness among the 144 stars of Taurus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Aldebaran, the brightest: it lies about 3° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 150 years ago.

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A public signature from a real person. The chosen name is a symbolic denomination within Stelvia, with no official standing or IAU recognition: the sky is not for sale and belongs to no one.

Astronomical data for Ain

Constellation: Taurus
Apparent magnitude: 3.53
Distance: 146.7 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 67.154° · Dec 19.180°
Catalogue: HIP 20889 · HD 28305

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

Other stars in Taurus

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

See all 144 stars in Taurus