The Small Magellanic Cloud: Mapping the Dance of Stars and Gas
The study explores the Small Magellanic Cloud's structure and evolution using Gaia data. Younger stars show rotation in a stretched disk, while older stars form a compact ellipsoid. Interactions with the Large Magellanic Cloud influence its shape, creating anomalies and stretching its stars and gas. This research highlights the dynamic history of the SMC and its ongoing transformation.
Following the Tidal Trail: Understanding the Magellanic Stream
The Magellanic Stream is a vast trail of gas extending from the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, dwarf galaxies orbiting the Milky Way. This structure, formed through tidal and hydrodynamic forces during the galaxies' interactions with each other and the Milky Way, has been mapped using radio observations. The Stream's composition and motion suggest that it was stripped from the Clouds during their first encounter with the Milky Way. While much progress has been made in understanding the Stream, open questions remain about its origin, distance, and ionization processes, which future research will address.