top of page
Search

Hyades Cluster

Updated: Feb 24


About this object


The Hyades star cluster, located in the constellation Taurus, is the closest open cluster to Earth, at a distance of approximately 153 light-years (47 parsecs). It is easily recognizable due to its V-shaped arrangement of stars, which is part of the bull's head in Taurus. The cluster is estimated to be around 625 million years old, making it relatively mature for an open cluster. The Hyades is notable for its bright stars, such as Theta¹ and Theta² Tauri, and its association with the bright foreground star Aldebaran, which is not a member of the cluster but lies along the same line of sight. Its proximity and well-studied nature have made the Hyades an important object for understanding stellar evolution and dynamics.


Designations


Standardized Catalogues

Caldwell 41

Collinder 50


PMC Observatory Catalogue


Observations


  1. 2024-12-20 at around 10:00 pm (+00:00)

  2. 2025-01-09 at around 10:00 pm (+00:00)

  3. 2025-02-01 at around 09:00 pm (+00:00)

  4. 2025-02-22 at around 07:30 pm (+00:00)


Location in the sky


The bull's head in the Taurus constellation. The nearest bright star is Aldebaran.



Photographs



An asterism within the Hyades cluster. On the top left, Theta¹ Tauri and Theta² Tauri are clearly visible. Their color difference is, too, as they are both different types of stars. The color difference between Theta¹ Tauri and Theta² Tauri arises from their differing stellar classifications and surface temperatures. Theta¹ Tauri is a giant star of spectral type G7III, giving it a yellowish hue due to its relatively cooler surface temperature of around 5,000–5,300 K. In contrast, Theta² Tauri is a giant star of spectral type A7III, which appears white because of its hotter surface temperature, approximately 7,500–8,000 K. These differences in temperature and spectral type directly influence their colors, with cooler stars appearing yellow or orange and hotter stars appearing white or blue. Both stars are members of the Hyades cluster, showcasing how stars of the same cluster can exhibit diverse characteristics depending on their mass and stage in stellar evolution.
An asterism within the Hyades cluster. On the top left, Theta¹ Tauri and Theta² Tauri are clearly visible. Their color difference is, too, as they are both different types of stars. The color difference between Theta¹ Tauri and Theta² Tauri arises from their differing stellar classifications and surface temperatures. Theta¹ Tauri is a giant star of spectral type G7III, giving it a yellowish hue due to its relatively cooler surface temperature of around 5,000–5,300 K. In contrast, Theta² Tauri is a giant star of spectral type A7III, which appears white because of its hotter surface temperature, approximately 7,500–8,000 K. These differences in temperature and spectral type directly influence their colors, with cooler stars appearing yellow or orange and hotter stars appearing white or blue. Both stars are members of the Hyades cluster, showcasing how stars of the same cluster can exhibit diverse characteristics depending on their mass and stage in stellar evolution.

Detail about the double star system Theta Tauri.
Detail about the double star system Theta Tauri.

bottom of page