Feast your eyes on the Small Magellanic Cloud | Cutting Edge - CNET News

For the first time, astronomers detect the presence of X-rays being emitted from young stars outside of our galaxy  

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Feast your eyes: The Small Magellanic Cloud, one of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way.

(Credit: NASA/CXC/Univ.Potsdam/L.Oskinova et al; Optical: NASA/STScI; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Astronomers describe it as a "dwarf galaxy," but the Small Magellanic Cloud, which happens to be one of the Milky Way's closest neighbors, is entirely majestic.

This galactic region takes its name from Ferdinand Magellan, a 16th century explorer who reportedly referred to the cloud's placement in the sky to guide his ship on his worldwide journeys

Feastyoureyes on the Small Magellanic Cloud | Cutting Edge - CNET News