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Dark nebula

The Taurus Molecular Cloud

Also Taurus Dark Clouds · Taurus–Auriga complex

Open in Ouranos

A large complex of nearby dark clouds where low-mass stars are forming.

Measured

Distance
about 479 light-years (published estimates 421–555)
Constellation
Taurus
Position (J2000)
RA 4h 36m 48s, Dec +25.90°

How far, from the Sun

About 479 light-years. To cross it:

  • Light479 years
  • Voyager 1's speed8.52 million years
  • Driving at 100 km/h5.17 billion years

Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.

Facts

  • T Tauri, the prototype of young Sun-like stars, lies in it.
  • Its distance comes from where stars behind it start to look dimmed and reddened by its dust, measured with Gaia.

Where this comes from

  • Zucker et al. 2020, A&A 633, A51 (147 pc on the sightline used; their sightlines across the cloud span 129–170 pc)
  • This research has made use of the SIMBAD database, CDS, Strasbourg, France (Wenger et al. 2000, A&AS 143, 9).
  • This research has made use of the VizieR catalogue access tool, CDS, Strasbourg, France (DOI: 10.26093/cds/vizier).

Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.