The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
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The Magellanic Clouds Are First-Time Visitors

  • Astronomers have measured the 3-D velocities of the Large Magellanic Cloud (shown here) and the Small Magellanic Cloud. They found surprisingly high speeds, which indicates that the Magellanic Clouds are not gravitationally bound to the Milky Way but instead are "just passing through."

    Astronomers have measured the 3-D velocities of the Large Magellanic Cloud (shown here) and the Small Magellanic Cloud. They found surprisingly high speeds, which indicates that the Magellanic Clouds are not gravitationally bound to the Milky Way but instead are "just passing through."

    Copyright Robert Gendler and Josch Hambsch 2005

    Low Resolution Image