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Although Zeta Tauri represents
the southern tip of the Horns of Taurus, it doesn't seem to have been given
a specific name in antiquity.
Zeta Tauri is a shell star, which means material is being ejected from its surface. This activity seems to be quite chaotic on zeta Tauri, quite violent at times followed by more subdued activity, as seen by studies of its spectrum.
Like many shell stars zeta Tauri is classified as variable, but one which doesn't change its visual magnitude (2.97) substantially.
To the northwest just over one degree is found the Crab Nebula, Charles Messier's first entry in his catalogue of deep sky objects: binoculars. In 7x35s the nebula looks like a faint star. In fact you may not be able to locate it among the real stars here. In 10x50s the spot is a bit larger and brighter and has taken on a fuzzy elliptical aspect. At least you can now mentally mark the spot for future study, should you get the itch to collect all the deep-sky objects in Charles Messier's catalogue.
You probably consider Orion is being far to the south. Yet here, just to the east, is the club held high by Orion as he threatens the bull.
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