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.
Credit:International Gemini Observatory/Club d’astronomie de Dorval/Stephanie Cote, Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics/Travis Rector, University of Alaska, Anchorage
About the Image
| Id: | gemini0505a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | May 17, 2005, 8 p.m. |
| Related releases: | gemini0505 |
| Size: | 2000 x 1800 px |
About the Object
| Name: | RY Tau |
| Distance: | 450 light years |
| Constellation: | Taurus |
| Category: | Nebulae |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 4 22 3.27 |
| Position (Dec): | 28° 28' 0.33" |
| Field of view: | 4.87 x 4.37 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 0.1° left of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colors & filters
| Band | Wave-length | Tele-scope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical g | 475 nm | Gemini North GMOS-N |
| Optical r | 630 nm | Gemini North GMOS-N |
| Optical i | 780 nm | Gemini North GMOS-N |
| Infrared H-alpha | 656 nm | Gemini North GMOS-N |