Two irregular dwarf satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way, known as the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Visible to the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere, these galaxies are among the closest galactic neighbors to the Milky Way.
- The Large Magellanic Cloud is about 160,000 light-years away and contains the Tarantula Nebula, one of the most active star-forming regions in the Local Group.
- The Small Magellanic Cloud lies about 200,000 light-years away and shows evidence of past gravitational interactions with both the LMC and the Milky Way.
- Both clouds are connected by a long stream of gas called the Magellanic Bridge.
- They also leave behind a massive trail of hydrogen gas known as the Magellanic Stream as they orbit the Milky Way.
The Magellanic Clouds are key to understanding star formation, galaxy interactions, and the role of dark matter in satellite galaxies.