Large and Small Magellan Clouds - Large and Small Magellanic clouds - These two irregular...

Large and Small Magellan Clouds - Large and Small Magellanic clouds - These two irregular galaxies are close to our galaxy. Visible in the southern hemisphere, they are located approximately 160,000 (Grand Cloud, right) and 240,000 light years (Small Cloud, left). The Magellanic Clouds are the nearest galaxies to the Milky Way, about 170,000 and 240,000 light years distant respectively. They are in the far southern sky, practically invisible from northern latitudes, and their low surface brightness makes them difficult to see unless they are high in the sky. Both Magellanic Clouds are less than 25 degrees from the South Celestial Pole and are visible at some time on any clear, dark night from Siding Spring, where this picture was taken. To the dark adapted eye the Magellanic Clouds look like detached pieces of the Milky Way, but this apparent detachment is misleading because both are in orbit around it. Although the Magellanic Clouds are separate galaxies they are interacting with each other and with the Milky Way itself. Already the SMC has been substantially disrupted by this process, and the LMC distorted. Eventually the galaxies will merge with each other and with the Milky Way itself