Considered as a pair of stars, the two components are designated Gamma Tauri A (officially named Prima Hyadum/ˌpraɪməˈhaɪədəm/, the traditional name for the system)[13] and B.
Gamma Tauri bore the traditional name Hyadum I,[11] which is Latin for "First of the Hyades". In 2016, the IAU organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[15] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN decided to attribute proper names to individual stars rather than entire multiple systems.[16] It approved the name Prima Hyadum for the component Gamma Tauri A on 5 September 2017 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names.[13]
Gamma Tauri presents as a spectral class G8 or K0[2][3]giant star with an apparent magnitude of +3.65. This star has passed through the main sequence phase is now a red clump giant, meaning it is using nuclear fusion of helium at its core to provide energy.[19]
Age estimates for Gamma Tauri range from 430 million[3] to 530 million years.[6] By comparison, the age of the Hyades cluster is about 625 million years with an error margin of 50 million years.[6]
^ abJohnson, H. L.; Morgan, W. W. (1953). "Fundamental stellar photometry for standards of spectral type on the revised system of the Yerkes spectral atlas". Astrophysical Journal. 117: 313–352. Bibcode:1953ApJ...117..313J. doi:10.1086/145697.
^Evans, D. S. (June 20–24, 1966). "The Revision of the General Catalogue of Radial Velocities". In Batten, Alan Henry; Heard, John Frederick (eds.). Determination of Radial Velocities and their Applications, Proceedings from IAU Symposium no. 30. University of Toronto: International Astronomical Union. Bibcode:1967IAUS...30...57E.
^ abSetiawan, J.; et al. (July 2004), "Precise radial velocity measurements of G and K giants. Multiple systems and variability trend along the Red Giant Branch", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 421: 241–254, Bibcode:2004A&A...421..241S, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20041042-1
^ abBernacca, P. L.; Perinotto, M. (1970). "A catalogue of stellar rotational velocities". Contributi Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova in Asiago. 239 (1): 1. Bibcode:1970CoAsi.239....1B.
^Hessman, F. V.; Dhillon, V. S.; Winget, D. E.; Schreiber, M. R.; Horne, K.; Marsh, T. R.; Guenther, E.; Schwope, A.; Heber, U. (2010). "On the naming convention used for multiple star systems and extrasolar planets". arXiv:1012.0707 [astro-ph.SR].