LMC[]
The LMC, fully recognized as the Large Magellanic Cloud, is a dwarf galaxy located in the constellations of Mensa and Dorado. It is the largest galaxy to be orbiting the Milky Way and is the 4th largest galaxy in the Local Group. It is the 2nd-3rd closest galaxy to the Milky Way. It is also the 17,233rd addition to the Principal Galaxies Catalog.
Features[]
The LMC is home to many astronomical objects such as VFTS 352, the Tarantula Nebula, R136a1, and WOH G64. The galaxy is rich in gas and dust, and has over 60 known globular clusters. NGC 1783 is among the largest in the galaxy. It is connected to the SMC by a bridge of gas known as the Magellanic Bridge.
Observations[]
Ferdinand Magellan discovered the galaxy during his voyage in 1519. His writings made it common western knowledge. In 1969, the first X-Ray source was discovered in the galaxy. In 2006, The Hubble Space Telescope made observations doubting the orbits of the LMC and SMC, as they suggested the galaxies were moving too fast. This topic is still debated. A black hole was discovered in the galaxy in 2021.
X-Ray Sources[]
LMC X-1 is the first X-Ray source discovered in the galaxy, discovered in 1969. Other X-Ray sources are: LMC X-2, LMC X-3, LMC X-4 and A0538–66.