The AsterNym star registry
Elnath
Elnath: the blue-white star of Taurus
blue-white · Taurus · β Tau
Elnath is a blue-white star — the colour of the hottest, youngest suns in the constellation Taurus, one of the few thousand stars bright enough to carry an officially recognised name. On a dark, clear night you can find it with your own eyes.
Most stars in the sky are anonymous points of light. Elnath is not — it has held a name across generations of sky-watchers, which makes it a rare thing to attach a name of your own to.
Real star · Personal dedication · Recorded in the AsterNym registry
See what a dedicated page looks like — preview
Elnath at a glance
- Constellation
- Taurus
- Other name
- β Tau
- Catalogue number
- HIP 25428
- Distance
- ≈ 134 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 1.65 naked-eye
- Star type
- B7 III
- Colour
- blue-white
- Best seen from
- The Northern Hemisphere and lower southern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 05h 26m 18s
- Declination
- +28° 36′ 27″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Elnath dedication represent?
Elnath is especially meaningful for someone who:
- · Deserves something older than any gift shop
- · Marks a beginning, an anniversary or a promise
- · Is remembered every time you look up
- · Has a light you want recorded somewhere permanent
Dedication idea
“For the one I think of when I find Taurus in the sky.”
Where can you see Elnath?
It is easy to see from most of the Northern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower southern latitudes, but it never rises for observers south of about latitude 61°S.
Elnath belongs to Taurus.
Dedicate Elnath to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Elnath dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Elnath's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Elnath keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Elnath
- Is Elnath the brightest star?
- Elnath shines at magnitude 1.65 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Elnath?
- Elnath is approximately 134 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 134 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Elnath?
- Elnath is part of Taurus.
- Can everyone see Elnath?
- It is easy to see from most of the Northern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower southern latitudes, but it never rises for observers south of about latitude 61°S.
- Is dedicating Elnath an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Elnath keeps its internationally recognised astronomical name. An AsterNym dedication records your personal name and message in the AsterNym registry without changing the star's scientific identity.