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Proper Names	Large Magellanic Cloud, LMC, Nubecula Major Small Magellanic Cloud, SMC, Nubecula Minor
Messier Numbers	None
NGC/IC Number	Large: None Small: NGC 292
Constellations	Large: Dorado and Mensa Small: Tucana
Right Ascension	Centred on: Large: 5h 23m 50s Small: 0h 58m 12s
Declination	Centred on: Large: -68° 47' 36" Small: -72° 44' 51"
Distance	Large: c.158,200 light years (c.48,500 parsecs) Small: c.199,000 light years (c.61,000 parsecs)
Magnitude	Large: Apparent: +0.6, Absolute: -17.8 Small: Apparent: +2.6, Absolute: -16.3
Mean Diameter	Large: Apparent: 16.3° (actual: c.14,000 light years) Small: Apparent: 4.0° (actual: c.7,000 light years)
Hubble Type	SBm Barred Spiral (Magellanic)
Optimum Visibility	Large: December / January Small: October (Both Clouds are usually visible from southern latitudes)
Notes	Named for the explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the Magellanic Clouds are small galaxies in orbit around the Milky Way. Each has features suggesting a barred spiral structure, but both Clouds have been considerably deformed by their proximity to the much more massive Milky Way Galaxy.

This small-scale view shows both Magellanic Clouds. To the east (left) is the Large Magellanic Cloud, straddling the border between Dorado and Mensa, while to the west (lower right) is the Small Magellanic Cloud in Tucana. Most of the sky between the two Clouds is occupied by the constellation Hydrus. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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