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Astronomy: Small Magellanic Cloud
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The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is part of our Local Group of galaxies located at a distance of 250.000 light years. It contains at least several hundred million stars. This small irregular shaped galaxy is easily visible with the naked eye from the southern hemisphere. The SMC contains very young and hot blue stars, indicating it has undergone a recent period of star formation and still is. Like the Large Magellanic Cloud, the SMC also orbits around our Milky Way Galaxy. There is evidence that the SMC is not gravitationally bound to the LMC. Related subjects>> The Large Magellanic Cloud>> Supernova SNR 0103-72.6 in the Small Magellanic Cloud >> Spacemap: from the Local Group of galaxies to Earth |
 June 2004 from Namibia, stunning picture from the Small Magellanic Cloud < JPG image 750 X 550 Pixels >  The Small Magellanic Cloud seen from the ground of Australia |
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