Large Magellanic Cloud

Credit: 2MASS; Infrared Processing and Analysis Center; Caltech; University of Massachusettes · Download full size image

This mosaic image of our dwarf irregular satellite neighbor, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), covers 6.9° × 6.1° on the sky. The LMC is at a distance from us of 50 kpc (or 163,000 light years). The nebulosity and bright recent star formation seen so prominently in the optical are much diminished in the near-infrared. Only 30 Doradus (the Tarantula Nebula) is still relatively recognizable in this image. The galaxy's bar region, however, is quite prominent, as seen by 2MASS, as it is dominated by intermediate-age red giants. Also detected in the galaxy are bright red and blue supergiants, and a large number of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. 1999 Jan 27-Feb 2 Posted on: 31 Mar, 2003

• Hubble Space Telescope
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• 2MASS Sky Survey
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• SOHO Daily Images - 1996
• Spitzer Space Telescope (SIRTF)
• Infrared Legacy Gallery

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