Rotation of the Large Magellanic Cloud
Explanation:
This image is not blurry.
It shows in clear detail that the largest satellite galaxy to our Milky Way, the
Large Cloud of Magellan (LMC), rotates.
First determined with
Hubble, the rotation of the LMC is presented here with fine data from the Sun-orbiting
Gaia satellite.
Gaia
measures the positions of stars so accurately that
subsequent measurements can reveal slight
proper motions of stars not previously detectable.
The featured image shows, effectively, exaggerated
star trails for millions of faint
LMC stars.
Inspection
of the image also shows the center of the
clockwise rotation: near the top of the LMC's central bar.
The
LMC, prominent in southern skies, is a
small spiral
galaxy that has been distorted by encounters with the greater
Milky Way Galaxy and the lesser
Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC).
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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.
