Quote:
Originally Posted by LewisM
Flogging a dead horse 
There are plenty of figures out there.
For example: "Many deep sky objects such as galaxies and nebulas appear as non-circular and are thus typically given two measures of diameter: Major Diameter and Minor Diameter. For example, the Small Magellanic Cloud has a visual apparent diameter of 5° 20' x 3° 5'." [ https://lonewolfonline.net/angular-size/]
https://phys.org/news/2016-11-magellanic-clouds.html states basically the same dimensions.
http://astropixels.com/galaxies/SMC-01.html mimics my angular size
Caltech: "Note that the field of view of the images in this gallery is 4.4 degrees on a side, or about nine times the diameter of a full Moon. While considered dwarf galaxies, their close proximity means that the Magellanic Clouds subtend a large angle on the sky" [ http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu//...seum/smc.html]
And lastly:The Small Magellanic Cloud (NGC 292). Irregular Galaxy, type SB(s)m pec, in Tucana
NED data file for the Small Magellanic Cloud (9 Mar 2000)
Object Names Type Object Names Type
SMC G [RC2] A0051-73 G
Small Magellanic Cloud G [RC1] A0051 G
NGC 0292 G PGC 003085 G
ESO 029- G 021 G Nubecula Minor G
ESO 005053-7304.3 G [TSA98] J005833.42-713534.33 XrayS
Reference Frame Longitude Latitude RA DEC Uncertainty Ellipse (arcsec)
(degrees) (degrees) Major Minor PA(deg)
Equatorial (B1950.0) 12.7500 -73.1000 00h51m00s -73d06.0m 1.80E+02 1.80E+02 0
Equatorial (J2000.0) 13.1866 -72.8286 00h52m44s -72d49.7m 1.80E+02 1.80E+02 0
Ecliptic (B1950.0) 311.3795 -64.6010 1.80E+02 1.80E+02 0
Ecliptic (J2000.0) 312.0882 -64.6054 1.80E+02 1.80E+02 0
Galactic 302.7969 -44.2992 1.80E+02 1.80E+02 0
SuperGalactic 224.2314 -14.8250 1.80E+02 1.80E+02 0
Basic Data
Helio. radial velocity : 158 +/- 4 km/s;
Redshift : 0.00053 +/- 0.00001; 1987A&A...171...33R
Diameters (arcmin) : 320 x 185
Magnitude : 2.7
Morphological Type : SB(s)m pec
[ http://messier.obspm.fr/xtra/supp/o_NED.html#smc] |
Agree Lewis I think you are flogging a dead horse. Diameter is diameter and nothing more. Adding 4 radii does not make an angular dimension. Dimensions quoted as 5x 3.5 degrees. No way you can turn 2 degrees dimebsions into 5x 3.5 degrees. Otherwise I am 7 foot six tall based on my width and height.
I think error is in quoted diameter in ly.
Error may come from unquestioned NASA figures.
I don't think NASA would take me seriously enough though.
Best
Jim