The Small Cloud of Magellan (SMC)
Explanation:
Almost unknown to casual observers in the
northern hemisphere,
the southern sky contains two diffuse
wonders known as the
Magellanic Clouds.
The Magellanic Clouds are small
irregular galaxies orbiting our own larger
Milky Way
spiral galaxy.
The
Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC),
pictured here,
is about 250,000 light years away and
contains a preponderance of
young, hot, blue stars
indicating it has undergone a recent
period of star formation.
There is evidence that the
SMC is not gravitationally bound
to the
LMC.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
