Large Magellanic Cloud

The Large Magellanic Cloud is a strange type of galaxy next to the Milky Way that is classed as a spiral galaxy even though it doesn’t really look as such. The galaxy sits in constellations Dorado and Mensa.

The Large Magellanic Cloud is also known as LMC, is the 4th largest galaxy in the local group. The local group includes our very own Milky Way galaxy.

The LMC is paired with the SMC which is the smaller galaxy with the SMC standing for the Small Magellanic cloud.. Both galaxies were observed in the 16th century by the famous Dutch explorer Ferdinand Magellan

In the 19th century, the famous astronomer John Frederick William Herschel studied and made some breakthrough observations on both the LMC and the SMC.

Key Data

Size: Diameter of 14,000 Light Years.

Star Population: 30 Billion.  

Distance from Earth: 155,000 + Light Years.

Galaxy Type: Spiral.

Constellation: Dorado & Mensa.   

Kids Fun Facts Corner

# 1. The Large Magellanic Cloud resides in two different constellations. Dorado & Mensa.

# 2. The Large Magellanic Cloud is part of the local group of galaxies and is the 4th largest galaxy in the group.

# 3. The is a bridge of gas that connects the Large Magellanic Cloud & the Small Magellanic Cloud.  

Q&A Corner

Q. What group of galaxies is The Large Magellanic Cloud in?

Q. What is the size of The Large Magellanic Cloud?

Q. What type of galaxy is The Large Magellanic Cloud?

Q. What constellation(s) is The Large Magellanic Cloud in? 

Q. What is the distance of The Large Magellanic Cloud from Earth?

Download questions about The Large Magellanic Cloud here: Large Magellanic Cloud (answer are on this page)

For further reading and more information on The Large Magellanic Cloud visit www.kids.kiddle.com/Large Magellanic Cloud