Aldebaran - Alpha Tauri

Aldebaran is an orange giant star located about 65 light years away in the zodiac constellation of Taurus. With an average apparent magnitude of 0.87, it is the brightest star in the constellation and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky.

The name Aldebaran is Arabic and translates literally as “the follower,” presumably because this bright star appears to follow the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters star cluster in the night sky. The name likely refers to the way Aldebaran follows the Pleiades in its nightly journey across the sky.

Aldebaran is also called the Bull's Eye due to its striking orange color and its location in the bull's head shaped asterism. In 1997, a substellar companion was reported, but subsequent observations have not confirmed this claim.

• In Persia, it was known as Sadvis and Kugard.
• The Romans called it Palilicium.
• In Chinese, it is known as Bixiuwu, the Fifth Star of the Net.
• In Hindu astronomy, it is identified as the lunar mansion Rohini and one of the twenty-seven daughters of Daksha and the wife of the god Chandra.
• Approximately 5,000 years ago, the rising of Aldebaran marked the vernal equinox and was the beginning of the Babylonian New Year.
• Hebrews called Aldebaran God's Eye and Aleph, Akkadian Gis-da, Furrow of Heaven, Greek Omma Boos, Latin Oculus Tauri, early English the Bull's Eye; and Hindus Rohini the Red Deer - the name of the river in Nepal where the Buddha was born at the time of the May full moon, around 563 BCE.

Aldebaran is one of the easier stars to find in the night sky, partly due to its brightness and partly due to its spatial relation to one of the more noticeable asterisms in the sky. To locate it, follow the three stars of Orion's belt from left to right (in the Northern Hemisphere) or right to left (in the Southern Hemisphere); Aldebaran is the first bright star found by continuing this line.

Astrologically, Aldebaran was considered a fortunate star, portending riches and honor. It is one of the four “royal stars” of the Persians from around 3000 BC. As the star of illumination, Aldebaran is associated with the applied power of transformation and is thought to irradiate the Way. It represents the ability to use the mind as a reflector of soul light. The other three Royal Stars are:

• Antares in the constellation Scorpio the Scorpion (Western Royal Star)
• Regulus in the constellation Leo the Lion (Northern Royal Star)
• Fomalhaut in the constellation Pisces Austrinus (Southern Royal Star)

This brilliant star has been used for centuries in navigation and is known by many civilizations to be connected with the spirits of rain and the fertility of the Earth. Aldebaran is also known as the Eye of Revelation, Buddha's Star, the Star of Illumination, God's Eye, and the Eye of the Bull.

Adolf Hitler's fascination with the occult has led to various speculative theories linking him to Aldebaran. Some researchers claim Hitler sought to create the perfect Aryan race based on mythic Atlanteans and pursued mystical artifacts, including the Spear of Destiny. Some theories suggest that Hitler discovered a crashed UFO in 1936 in the Black Forest (Project Haunebu) and that he may have had connections with aliens from Aldebaran.

• “Adolf Hitler lived in Patagonia, in southern Argentina, after fleeing Germany in 1945,” claims Argentinian journalist Abel Basti. His book, *Bariloche: Nazi Guia-Turistica*, discusses locations in the Andean foothills that served as refuges for former Nazi leaders. Basti suggests Hitler and Eva Braun escaped to Argentina and lived in various locations including Incalco Ranch and Hacienda San Ramon.

• “Hitler and his lover, Eva Braun, did not commit suicide - rather, they fled to Argentina's shores aboard a submarine and lived for years in the vicinity of San Carlos de Bariloche,” according to Basti.

• Basti's book includes various documents, affidavits, and photographs to support his claims. He argues that Hitler and other Nazi leaders escaped to Argentina and that the presence of Nazi U-boats in Patagonia facilitated their relocation.

• The idea that Hitler traveled to Antarctica and established a base in Neuschwabenland (New Swabia) is also discussed. Some theories suggest that Hitler may have lived out his life there or even traveled to the moon to meet aliens from Aldebaran.

• A more speculative theory suggests that Hitler went to the moon in 1954, met aliens from Aldebaran, and later returned to Aldebaran with them. Proponents of this theory believe that Hitler will return to Earth in a vast Aldebarani space armada.

Reference: UFO Round-up - January 7, 2004