MAGELLANIC CLOUD Meaning and
Definition
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Magellanic Clouds refer to two irregular dwarf galaxies, named the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud, that are located in the southern hemisphere of the night sky and can be observed from Earth. The Magellanic Clouds are named after the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who discovered them during his voyages in the early 16th century.
The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is the more massive of the two, spanning about 14,000 light-years across. It is the third closest galaxy to our Milky Way, at a distance of approximately 163,000 light-years. The LMC exhibits a bar-like structure across its center, where numerous young stars are formed. It is also rich in gas and dust, fostering the creation of new stars and clusters within its boundaries.
On the other hand, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is located around 200,000 light-years away from us. It has a relatively smaller size compared to the LMC, stretching about 7,000 light-years across. The SMC is characterized by its irregular shape with several interstellar clouds, which are regions of active star formation.
Both Magellanic Clouds are visible to the naked eye in the southern hemisphere, making them important sources for studying the early stages of galaxy formation, stellar evolution, and the interplay of gaseous and stellar components within dwarf galaxies. Their proximity to the Milky Way has also allowed astronomers to investigate their gravitational interactions with our galaxy, which have shaped their morphology over time.
Common Misspellings for MAGELLANIC CLOUD
- nagellanic cloud
- kagellanic cloud
- jagellanic cloud
- mzgellanic cloud
- msgellanic cloud
- mwgellanic cloud
- mqgellanic cloud
- mafellanic cloud
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- mabellanic cloud
- mahellanic cloud
- mayellanic cloud
- matellanic cloud
- magwllanic cloud
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- magdllanic cloud
- magrllanic cloud
- mag4llanic cloud
- mag3llanic cloud
Etymology of MAGELLANIC CLOUD
The word "Magellanic" in "Magellanic Cloud" refers to Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer who led the first circumnavigation of the Earth. He and his crew observed these clouds during their voyage.
The clouds themselves are galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), which are satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. The term "cloud" describes their appearance, as they have a hazy and nebulous appearance when observed from Earth.
