SMALL MAGELLANIC CLOUD

185,000 light-years

The Small Magellanic Cloud is a dwarf galaxy that orbits the Milky Way. It is one of our three companions in the Local Group of galaxies that can be seen with the naked eye, although only in southern skies. Like many galaxies, it has reddish star-forming regions and star clusters. The bright object at the top of this frame is 47 Tucanae, a globular cluster of stars in our own galaxy.

Credit: Image made in visible light by Robert Gendler.