Aldebaran is a double star 68 light years away in the constellation Taurus. At 50 times larger than the Sun, it is about 14th in brightness on the night sky and one of the brightest of the northern sky.

Its name comes from the Arabic word ad-dabarān which means "follower" or "following", implying that the star follows the Pleiades in the night sky.

Aldebaran is not in the group Hyades, as claimed by Webster_1913. Aldebaran is about 80 light-years closer to Earth, which is usually considered too much for it to belong to the group.

Al*deb"a*ran (#), n. [Ar. al-debaran, fr. dabar to follow; so called because this star follows upon the Pleiades.] Astron.

A red star of the first magnitude, situated in the eye of Taurus; the Bull's Eye. It is the bright star in the group called the Hyades.

Now when Aldebaran was mounted high Above the shiny Cassiopeia's chair. Spenser.

 

© Webster 1913.