Dwarf Galaxy Stripped by Milky Way

Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach in collaboration with NASA’s Universe of Learning partners: Caltech/IPAC, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Video imagery:

·       Artist’s concept of the Milky Way Galaxy with the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud dwarf galaxies: NASA/ Nina McCurdy / Nick Risinger

·       Artist’s concept of the Large Magellanic Cloud being stripped of its halo: NASA, ESA, Ralf Crawford (STScI) 

·       Artist’s concept, Large Magellanic Cloud with halo: NASA, ESA, Ralf Crawford (STScI)

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A collage of pictures of planets, galaxies, nebulae, and stars appears. Text: News from the Universe. 

 

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November 22, 2024. DWARF GALAXY STRIPPED BY MILKY WAY. 

 

The Milky Way appears positioned next to a much smaller galaxy. 

 

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is learning more about the ongoing interaction between our Milky Way galaxy and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). 

 

Rather than orbiting the Milky Way, scientists think the LMC is just passing by and recently made its closest approach. 

 

The dense environment of the Milky Way pushes back against the incoming LMC, creating a wake of gas trailing the dwarf galaxy, like the tail of a comet. 

 

A trail of gas follows the dwarf galaxy. 

 

Text: The interaction has almost completely stripped off the gas halo of the LMC. 

 

The purplish LMC encompasses the dwarf galaxy and its clusters of stars. 

 

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Text: Next, scientists want to study the front side of the LMC's halo, where it is colliding with the Milky Way's halo. 

 

This news was brought to you in part by the SPACE TELESCOPE SCIENCE INSTITUTE IN BALTIMORE, Maryland. Artist's concept.