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The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and its close relative the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) are irregular dwarf galaxies that orbit the Milky Way, making them members of our Local Group of galaxies. Both galaxies are close enough to be visible to the unaided eye from the Southern Hemisphere. The LMC It is filled with many interesting objects, including the Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070), which is a giant hot emission nebula. It also contains globular and open clusters, and planetary nebulae. In 1987 a supernova occurred in this region. Diffuse galactic light is visible lingering over this galaxy. This phenomenon occurs when starlight scatters off dust clouds in and around the plane of the Large Magellanic Cloud's disk, forming a faint reflection nebula.
References:
http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/lmc.html
http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~cole/lmc

Object

Distance from Earth

Wavelength

Large Magellanic Cloud

180,000 light years
Optical

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