Taurus

By Kristen

There are two questions about Taurus, "Is it attacking the Hunter Orion? Or is the whole story about Taurus' horns?" Well the horns were a symbol of plenty and rewards in many groups around the world for many centuries. For it may be the case here too. The constellation would have announced the Vernal Equinox around the time of 4000 BC.

Taurus is also the Greek story of Europa and the Bull. A king named Agenur was the father of Europa. One spring day, with her maidens, Princess Europa went to the sea shore to gather flowers. Zeus, who was in love with her, seized the opportunity.

Zeus morphed into a great white bull, and as such he joined the grazing herd of King Agenor. Europa noticed the wonderful white creature who looked at them all with a good manner that they were not frightened.

The constellation mainly shows the horns, and very long horns they are. The left horn, which is the southern one, starts from the group of stars known as the Hyades. It goes from Aldebaran. Just west, above the Hyades, is the right horn. The rest of the bull has a slight body and two legs, which is disappointing. As the bull carries Europa to Crete, it is half way above the water.

The eye of Taurus is very bright, an orange giant star almost 40 times the size of the sun. It has burned for billions of years until little hydrogen is left.