Neighboring Galaxy: The Large Magellanic Cloud
Explanation:
The brightest galaxy visible from our own Milky Way Galaxy is the
Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC).
Visible predominantly from
Earth's Southern Hemisphere, the
LMC is the second
closest galaxy,
neighbor to the
Small Magellanic Cloud,
and one of
eleven known dwarf galaxies that orbit our Milky Way Galaxy.
The
LMC is an
irregular galaxy composed of a bar of older red stars,
clouds of younger blue stars, and a bright red star forming
region visible near the top of the
above image called the
Tarantula Nebula.
The brightest
supernova of modern times,
SN1987A, occurred in the
LMC.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
