Magellanic Clouds
Dwarf galaxy pair
The Magellanic Clouds are two irregular dwarf galaxies visible to the naked eye in the Southern Hemisphere, appearing as fuzzy patches of light.
The Large Magellanic Cloud and Small Magellanic Cloud orbit the Milky Way as satellite galaxies.
Named after the explorer Ferdinand Magellan, whose crew documented them during their 16th-century circumnavigation.
Stars grouped by age and composition
- dark matterLightless cosmic mass
- starburstRadiant pattern from center
- star clustersGravitationally bound stellar collections
- Cepheid variablesStars with periodic luminosity
Region below the equator
- naked-eyeVision without optical aids
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- observatoryFacility for celestial study
- night skyDarkness above after sunset
skywatching · celestial · astronomical · nebulae · stargazing · astrophotography · radio astronomy · spectroscopy
Complete journey around something
- voyageJourney by sea
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- Age of DiscoveryEuropean maritime expansion era
- navigatorsThose who direct travel
seafaring · caravel · celestial navigation · uncharted waters · 16th century
stellar populations
Stars grouped by age and composition
- dark matterLightless cosmic mass
- starburstRadiant pattern from center
- star clustersGravitationally bound stellar collections
southern hemisphere
Region below the equator
- naked-eyeVision without optical aids
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- observatoryFacility for celestial study
night sky · skywatching · celestial · astronomical · nebulae · stargazing · astrophotography · radio astronomy · spectroscopy · Hubble
circumnavigation
Complete journey around something
- voyageJourney by sea
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- Age of DiscoveryEuropean maritime expansion era
navigators · seafaring · caravel · celestial navigation · uncharted waters · 16th century
- Southern HemisphereAntarctica, Australia, South America, South Africa, New Zealand
- Galaxiesgalaxy, galaxies, Milky Way, spiral galaxy, Andromeda
- Deep-Sky ObjectsOrion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy, Crab Nebula, Horsehead Nebula, nebula
- Southern SkyCrux, Southern Cross, Centaurus, Mensa, Norma
- Magellan-related
- galaxy partsgalactic core, spiral arms, galactic center, spiral arm, nucleus
Magellanic CloudsAndromeda Galaxy
Nearest major spiral neighbor
Ursa Major · Big Dipper · Polaris · North Star · Cassiopeia