Star lore
Elnath
Direct answer
Elnath is Beta Tauri, a blue-white giant marking the tip of Taurus's northern horn beside Auriga.
Elnath is the bright horn-tip star shared visually by Taurus and Auriga.
$0 today, then $12/month after 7 days. Cancel anytime.
At a glance
- Found in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related
- Shaula, Bellatrix, Alnilam, Alnitak
What does your own chart say about you?
Choose love, work or purpose. Your reading is written from your chart. Your reading uses your own birth details.
Walk through Alex’s whole example first
The Road of AgesSee the turning points of your whole life, from your birth date
See your road's shape
Prefer to explore first?
The Road of AgesThe turning points of your whole life, from your own chart
Walk my road
Free, by email
Your daily Almanac letter
One short letter at 7 each morning: the day’s theme read for your own chart, and one thing to do with it.
The story behind Elnath
Older catalogues also called it Gamma Aurigae; modern IAU boundaries place it in Taurus.
A one-minute story
The Road of the Sun
Where the twelve signs came from, and why they carry the names they do.
Why Elnath matters
Elnath’s boundary history illustrates how one obvious star can participate in two traditional figures but belong officially to one constellation.
How to read Elnath
Extend the Hyades V away from Aldebaran to Elnath, then use it as the lower edge of Auriga's winter polygon.
Elnath in practice: an example
Elnath forms a convenient route from Taurus's face toward the open clusters of Auriga.
Where readings of Elnath go wrong
The usual misreading is to create two physical or catalogue stars from its former dual designation.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- IAU Division C Working Group on Star Names - Official IAU working group responsible for standardizing star names used in international astronomy.
- CDS SIMBAD Astronomical Database - Professional astronomical database for stellar identifiers, positions, classifications, and bibliography.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Reach the Bull's northern horn
A definition tells you what it is; your own birth chart tells you what it means for you. The Oracle casts your real chart and answers for your love, your work, and your year ahead, in conversation. It opens with the 7-day Seeker trial.
Speak with the OracleRelated terms
More in Constellations & Star Lore
From the reference page to your own chart
Every word here
is in your own chart.
- A personal reading about love, work or purpose, written from your chart
- A practical next step to consider
- It opens with 7 days free, with the AI Oracle and daily guidance
$0 today, then $12/month after 7 days. Cancel anytime.
Common questions
What is Elnath?
Elnath is Beta Tauri, a blue-white giant marking the tip of Taurus's northern horn beside Auriga.
What do people get wrong about Elnath?
The usual misreading is to create two physical or catalogue stars from its former dual designation.
Free, by email
The Almanac, in your inbox at 7
One short letter at 7 each morning: the day’s theme read for your own chart, and one thing to do with it.
