Magellanic cloud

Mag`el`lan´ic cloud

n.

1.

(Astron.) Either of two conspicuous celestial nebulæ near the south celestial pole, resembling thin white clouds, each of which is a galaxy{2} smaller than but separate from the Milky Way galaxy, and together they are the galactic formations nearest to our galaxy. They are not visible from the northern hemisphere, and are named after Ferdinand Magellan, who saw them in his expedition, which passed through the Strait of Magellan in South America, and one ship of which completed the first circumnavigation of the globe.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Magellanic Cloud - either of two small galaxies orbiting the Milky Way; visible near the south celestial pole Large Magellanic Cloud - the larger of the two Magellanic Clouds visible from the southern hemisphere Small Magellanic Cloud - the smaller of the two Magellanic Clouds visible from the southern hemisphere