Magellanic Clouds

Magellanic Clouds, 2 irregular galaxies nearest the Milky Way, visible in the far southern sky. The Large Magellanic Cloud (Nubecula Major), about 15,000 light-years in diameter, is located mostly in the constellation Dorado; the Small Magellanic Cloud (Nubecula Minor) is about 10,000 light-years across and is almost entirely in the constellation Tucana. Both are about 200,000 light-years from the earth.

See also: Galaxy.