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AsteriaStar
Main-sequence star · Taurus

Lambda Tauri

Knowledge graphLambda Tau35 TauHR 1239HD 25204

Scientific overview

Lambda Tauri is a main-sequence star in the constellation Taurus (Tauri), lying about 483.9 light-years from Earth.

Class B. Hot, blue-white stars. Massive and luminous, they often light up the regions where they form. Such stars have surface temperatures around 10,000–30,000 K and appear blue-white to the eye.

Physical properties

Spectral typeB3V + A
Luminosity classV
Apparent magnitude3.41
Absolute magnitude-2.45
Luminosity (Sun = 1)829
Colour index (B−V)-0.099
Distance483.9 ly (148.37 pc)

Values are real catalogue data; fields without a reliable value are omitted, never estimated.

Precision measurements

Astrometry and astrophysics from SIMBAD and Gaia DR3 · Gaia DR3 3305012316783533056 · elevated RUWE

Parallax8.0397 ± 0.4405 masSIMBAD · measured
Distance123.9 pcGaia · estimated
Proper motion (RA)-6.562 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)-12.591 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity17.8 ± 0.9 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typeB4IVSIMBAD · catalogued
Effective temperature15536.5 KGaia · modeled
Radius5.6566 R_sunGaia · modeled
Surface gravity (log g)3.6182 log(cm/s^2)Gaia · modeled
Metallicity [M/H]-0.8 dexGaia · modeled
Right ascension (ICRS)60.1701 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)12.4903 degSIMBAD · measured
Full field-level provenance
  • Parallax: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · plx_value · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Distance: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia EDR3 · Bailer-Jones (2021) · external.gaiaedr3_distance · r_med_geo · row 3305012316783533056 · Bayesian estimate · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Proper motion (RA): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · pmra · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Proper motion (Dec): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · pmdec · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Radial velocity: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · rvz_radvel · 1979IAUS...30...57E · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Spectral type: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · sp_type · 2009A&A...501..297Z · catalogue identifier/value · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Effective temperature: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · teff_gspphot · row 3305012316783533056 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Radius: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · radius_gspphot · row 3305012316783533056 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Surface gravity (log g): ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · logg_gspphot · row 3305012316783533056 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Metallicity [M/H]: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · mh_gspphot · row 3305012316783533056 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Right ascension (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · ra · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Declination (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · dec · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11

measured = direct catalogue value · estimated = Bayesian inference (Bailer-Jones distance) · modeled = model output (Gaia GSP-Phot). Fields a source did not provide are omitted, never invented.

Evolution

A main-sequence star fuses hydrogen into helium in its core. It will remain on the main sequence for most of its life before evolving into a giant.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Taurus
Hemisphere
Both (equatorial)
Best seen
Winter (N. evening sky)
RA / Dec
4.0113h / 12.4903°

Knowledge connections

  • In constellationTaurus

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • HYG DatabaseHYG Database (Hipparcos + Yale Bright Star + Gliese), by D. Nash / astronexus

    Aggregated, openly-licensed star catalogue combining Hipparcos, the Yale Bright Star Catalogue, and the Gliese Catalogue of Nearby Stars.

  • HipparcosESA Hipparcos space astrometry mission

    High-precision parallax, magnitude, and position for ~118,000 stars.