Magellanic Cloud

Magellanic Cloud
n. each of two galaxies visible in the southern sky.
Etymology: F. Magellan, Port. explorer d. 1521

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noun
either of two small galaxies orbiting the Milky Way; visible near the south celestial pole
Instance Hypernyms: ↑galaxy, ↑extragalactic nebula

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noun
Usage: usually capitalized M&C
: either of the two nearest galaxies to the Milky Way system located within 25 degrees of the south celestial pole and appearing as conspicuous patches of light resembling detached portions of the Milky Way but actually more than 200,000 light-years distant

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Astron.
either of two irregular galactic clusters in the southern heavens that are the nearest independent star system to the Milky Way.
[1675-85]

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Magellanic Cloud,
either of two faintly luminous patches in the heavens south of the equator. They are the two galaxies nearest to our own and consist of multitudes of stars.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Magellanic cloud — Mag el*lan ic cloud, n. (Astron.) Either of two conspicuous celestial nebul[ae] 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 Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Magellanic Cloud — n. [after F. MAGELLAN1 Ferdinand] Astron. either of two irregular galaxies visible to the naked eye in the S constellations Dorado, Mensa, and Tucana: the larger one is the closest external galaxy to the Milky Way and the smaller one is the… …   English World dictionary

  • Magellanic cloud — Astron. either of two irregular galactic clusters in the southern heavens that are the nearest independent star system to the Milky Way. [1675 85] * * * Either of two irregular companion galaxies of the Milky Way Galaxy, named for Ferdinand… …   Universalium

  • Magellanic cloud — Mag′ellan′ic cloud′ n. astron. either of two small galaxies in the S skies: nearest independent star systems to the Milky Way • Etymology: 1675–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • Magellanic cloud — /ˌmædʒəlænɪk ˈklaʊd/ (say .majuhlanik klowd) noun either of two bright cloud like patches of stars in the southern heavens, being the two galaxies closest to our own, at distances of 150 000 and 173 000 light years. {from Ferdinand Magellan1} …  

  • Magellanic Cloud — noun Etymology: Ferdinand Magellan Date: circa 1686 either of the two small galaxies that appear as conspicuous patches of light near the south celestial pole and are companions to the Milky Way galaxy …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Magellanic Cloud — noun Either of two irregular galaxies that are close companions of our Milky Way galaxy …   Wiktionary

  • Large Magellanic Cloud — The Large Magellanic Cloud Observation data (J2000 epoch) Constellation Dorado/Mensa …   Wikipedia

  • Small Magellanic Cloud — Small Magellanic Cloud. Source: Digitized Sky Survey 2 Observation data (J2000 epoch) …   Wikipedia

  • The Magellanic Cloud —   Author(s) Stanisław Lem Original title Obłok Magell …   Wikipedia

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