As one of the brightest, Aldebaran is also one of the most mythologized stars in the night sky. Ancient astronomers in the Middle East, India, Greece, Mexico and Australia all had stories to explain Aldebaran's reddish glow, which is actually a product of its large size and relatively cool surface temperature.
Even today, if you attend an astronomy stargazing session — especially in the winter, since that's when Aldebaran and its home constellation are visible — you'll likely learn about Aldebaran and the most common stories that are told about this eye-catching star.
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Despite our fascination with the brightest stars in the sky, astronomers continue to learn about them — Aldebaran included. Here are some of the basics about this luminous orange star.