International Gemini Observatory/Club d’astronomie de Dorval/Stephanie Cote, Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics/Travis Rector, University of Alaska, Anchorage
RY-Tau
Gemini North image of stellar nursery RY Tau was imaged by the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) as part of a Canadian contest for amateur astronomers. The image reveals tremendous detail in the wispy remains of the gas cloud that formed the bright star at bottom/center. This system is approximately 140 parsecs (450 light years) away, and spans about 2/3 of a light year. The central star is a variable star that ranges between visual magnitudes 9 and 11 over an irregular period of time.
