LMC Suprise!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #1 29-04-2005, 10:01 PM

My impression of the LMC has been changed forever!!

I am so used to seeing the Large Magellanic Cloud all my life as a Blobby Galaxy (technical term is actually 'Irregular Galaxy').

I was truly amazed to find out it is actually a very shoddy Spiral!

For those of you with 'Australian Sky and Telescope' May Edition have a look on page 13 at the Radio Telescope image of the LMC.

In Radio images it shows a definite Pinwheel Structure!

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

<i>p.s. I would've submitted the pic I am talking about but can't coz of copyright.</i>

rumples riot · #2 29-04-2005, 11:22 PM

Not only that Ken, it has a lot of targets to look at within its territory. I have always loved shots taken of it.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #3 29-04-2005, 11:32 PM

Yes Paul, I enjoy what is in the LMC as well. Lots of Nebs especially. But I never suspected (like everyone, I guess) that it was a spiral! Cool Huh!

Hopefully our Forum member (I think it is Greg Bryant) can post the pic here coz he works for the Mag. I don't wanna be done for copyright.

atalas · #4 30-04-2005, 12:46 AM

Wow ken I din't know that ! so the LMC was a spiral ?

Louie

ving (David) · #5 30-04-2005, 02:06 PM

the SMC I believe has a more spiral shape to it... or am i mistaken.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 30-04-2005, 02:44 PM

Don't know David. We need a Radio Pic of it. Gee I get excited when I hear about, and see, things that change old knowledge.

hector (Andrew) · #7 05-05-2005, 10:05 PM

The LMC is a Barred Spiral that has been twisted out of shape by the Milky Way. To the naked eye it does look like a big blob but with a good photo the spiral shape can be traced. the arms are best traced by looking at the distribution of the emmision nebula in tyhe galaxy. One of these arms appears to point to the SMC.
The SMC is a tube seen end on. it has no spiral shape really but the RC3 ( galaxy catalogue) does list it as an SBS9p. a sprial galaxy with weak arms with some pecular aspects.
The tidal pull of the milky way on these galaxies has pushed and pulled them out of shape.
As the galaxies orbit the milky way they leave behind a trail of stars and gas called the Magellanic Stream. This can be traced easily with a radio telescope.
If people would like, I can bring along some copies of my website detailing the SMC on cd. It has a comprehensive list of objects that can be seen with an 8-12" scope along with finder charts and finder maps and object descriptions. It no longer exists on the web, but i am hopping to have it restored soon.
Clear Skies
Andrew

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #8 05-05-2005, 10:42 PM

Thanks for the info Andrew.

Interesting how the Milky Way has distorted the Magellanic family.

I would be happy to see your CD. I'm sure others would be too.

SMC is a tube! Wow, keep the fascinating stuff coming.

iceman (Mike) · #9 06-05-2005, 06:02 AM

Great info Andrew, thanks. Would love to see the CD.

Also if you'd like hosting (and a subdomain) off IceInSpace, i'm more than happy to oblige.

hector (Andrew) · #10 06-05-2005, 10:20 PM

Hi all
Gave some bad info yesterday.
The SMC is not a tube.
We are looking at the SMC as if it were a tube faceing us end on. So if the SMC is a barred spiral we are looking at the bar in profile.
The SMC web site is about 15mb in size so I'm not sure if you have room to host. I will chat to you tomorrow about it.
Clear Skies
Andrew

iceman (Mike) · #11 07-05-2005, 04:54 AM

I have heaps of space Andrew.. talk to you about it tonight.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #12 08-05-2005, 01:59 AM

Tube, Bar, doesn't matter. It's all interesting to know it's not exactly what we see visually!