The emission characteristics of phosphors based on alkaline earth tellurates as host lattice are described. The fluorescence of hexavalent uranium in compounds of the formula , was studied. The spectral energy distribution of the fluorescence is affected by the cationic species and crystal structure of the compound. Two of the more interesting phosphors are and which emit in the blue‐green and orange region of the spectrum, respectively. The effect of structural variations on the nature of the emission center in uranium‐activated phosphors is discussed.