What type of galaxies are the Magellanic Clouds?

The Magellanic Clouds (Magellanic system or Nubeculae Magellani) are two irregular dwarf galaxies in the southern celestial hemisphere. Orbiting the Milky Way galaxy, these satellite galaxies are members of the Local Group.

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Are the Magellanic Clouds in our galaxy?

Magellanic Cloud, either of two satellite galaxies of the Milky Way Galaxy, the vast star system of which Earth is a minor component. These companion galaxies were named for the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, whose crew discovered them during the first voyage around the world (1519–22).

What type of galaxy are the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds?

The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. As some of the closest galaxies to our home galaxy, they stand out as big, misty blobs of light under dark skies.

What is unique about the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds?

The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds are satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. Because of that, they are believed to be orbiting the Milky Way galaxy. The Milky has about 50 satellite galaxies and the Large Magellanic Cloud is the largest of them. And by largest, that means about 1/100th the Milky Way’s size.

What is the Small Magellanic Cloud made of?

The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), or Nubecula Minor, is a dwarf galaxy near the Milky Way. Classified as a dwarf irregular galaxy, the SMC has a diameter of about 7,000 light-years, contains several hundred million stars, and has a total mass of approximately 7 billion solar masses.

Where is the Small Magellanic Cloud?

RA 0h 52m 45s | Dec -72° 49′ 43″Small Magellanic Cloud / Coordinates

How was the Magellanic cloud formed?

Recent studies of the Small Magellanic Cloud indicate that it might be a former single galaxy split into two remnants. Gravitational interactions with the LMC may have broken that galaxy apart. The Large Magellanic Cloud contains a highly active starbirth region called the Tarantula Nebula.

Does Small Magellanic Cloud orbit Milky Way?

The Magellanic Clouds are comprised of two irregular galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), which orbit the Milky Way once every 1,500 million years and each other once every 900 million years.

How big are the Magellanic Clouds?

7,000 light yearsLarge Magellanic Cloud / Radius

How were the Magellanic Clouds formed?

Can you see Magellanic Clouds with naked eye?

About the Magellanic Clouds The LMC is the third closest galaxy to the Milky Way, at 160,000 light-years away. And at around 210,000 light-years from Earth, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is the furthest object us southerners can see with the naked eye during the winter months.

How big is the Small Magellanic Cloud?

3,500 light yearsSmall Magellanic Cloud / Radius