Taurus

Taurus, in astronomy

Taurus [Lat.,= the bull], in astronomy, constellation NW of Orion and lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path through the heavens) between Gemini and Aries; it is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Taurus is traditionally depicted as the forepart of a bull, in reference to the Greek legend in which Zeus either assumed the form of a bull himself or sent the bull to carry Europa over the sea to Crete. The constellation contains the bright stars Elnath (Beta Tauri) and Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri), long used in navigation. A line extended through and slightly up from Orion's belt will strike Aldebaran. Two notable star clusters, the Pleiades and the Hyades, are found in Taurus, which also includes a number of double stars (observable with small telescopes) and the Crab Nebula (M1). Taurus reaches its highest point in the evening sky in January.

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Taurus, mountain chain, Turkey

Taurus (tôr`əs), Turkish Toros (tôrōs`), mountain chain, S Turkey, extending c.350 mi (560 km) roughly parallel to the Mediterranean coast of S Asia Minor. It forms the southern border of the Anatolian plateau. Its northeastern extension across the Seyhan River is called the Anti-Taurus. The highest peak of the Taurus proper is Ala Dağ (12,251 ft/3,734 m), at its eastern end; Nemrut Dağ (Mt. Nemrut) in the Anti-Taurus, is the site of colossal Hellenistic ruins. Erciyas Daği (anc. Mount Argaeus), reaching 12,848 ft (3,916 m), is sometimes considered part of the Taurus although it rises in central Anatolia, in an outlier of the Taurus proper. The Amanos Mts., along the eastern shore of the Gulf of Iskenderun, are also considered an offshoot of the main Taurus. The Taurus is crossed by five major passes; the Cilician Gates, N of Tarsus, is the best known. The mountains have long been a barrier to movement between the Anatolian basin and the Levant. The range has important chromium deposits and other minerals (notably copper, silver, lignite, zinc, iron, and arsenic). The Anti-Taurus are well wooded.

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Taurus

(Latin: “Bull”) In astronomy, the constellation lying between Aries and Gemini; in astrology, the second sign of the zodiac, governing approximately the period April 20–May 20. Its symbol is a bull, a reference to the Greek myth in which Zeus transformed himself into a white bull to abduct Europa.

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Taurus

1. Astronomy a zodiacal constellation in the N hemisphere lying close to Orion and between Aries and Gemini. It contains the star Aldebaran, the star clusters Hyades and Pleiades, and the Crab Nebula

2. Astrology

a. the second sign of the zodiac, symbol ♉, having a fixed earth classification and ruled by the planet Venus. The sun is in this sign between about April 20 and May 20

b. a person born when the sun is in this sign

3. born under or characteristic of Taurus

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Taurus [′tȯr·əs]

(astronomy)

A northern constellation; right ascension 4 hours, declination 15° north; it includes the star Aldebaran, useful in navigation. Also known as Bull.

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Taurus

constellation of the zodiac symbolized by the bull. [Astrology: EB, IX: 844]

See : Bull

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Taurus

bull (Apr. 20–May 20). [Astrology: Hall, 314]

See : Zodiac

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Taurus

(in Turkish, Toros Dağlan), a mountain system in southern Turkey.

The Taurus Mountains extend 1,000 km along the Mediterranean Sea, forming the southern edges of the Asia Minor Highlands and the western Armenian Highland. The ranges of the Anti-Taurus form an extension of the system to the northeast. The mountains have elevations to 3,726 m, at Mount Demirkazik. In the Central Taurus, a number of peaks rise above 3,000 m, and the relief is of the alpine type, with traces of ancient glaciation; there are karst landscapes in the west.

The Taurus system, which was formed during the Alpide folding, is composed primarily of limestones; along its axis it is composed primarily of schists and other metamorphic rocks. The extremely steep southern slopes receive 1,000–3,000 mm of precipitation annually, most of it in winter. Up to elevations of 800–1,000 m the slopes are covered mainly by maquis consisting of arbutus, laurel, myrtle, tree heath, and rockrose (genus Cistus); at higher elevations there are oak and cypress forests. Forests of pine, fir, and cedar of Lebanon are found in the upper zone, up to 2,200–2,400 m. There are juniper thickets and meadows at the timberline. Steppe vegetation grows on the relatively gentle northern slopes, which receive 300–400 mm of precipitation annually, and in the eastern part of the Taurus are mountain steppes and semideserts with thorny pulvinate shrubs. The Cilician Gates form a pass through the Taurus Mountains.

IU. K. EFREMOV

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Taurus

(or Bull), a zodiacal constellation (seeZODIAC). Its brightest stars are Aldebaran, El Nath, Alcyone, and ξ Tauri, which are of visual magnitude 0.8,1.6, 2.9, and 3.0, respectively. The two open star clusters called the Hyades and the Pleiades are found in Taurus. The best conditions for observing the constellation are in November and December, when it is visible throughout the USSR. (SeeSTELLAR SKY).