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NGC 292, the Small Magellanic Cloud, is a small galaxy residing (better said, passing by) in the Milky Way neighborhood. It is quite close (200,000 light years, making it the fourth nearest galaxy to our own), what has allowed a detailed study. The closeness to us, may have disrupted the once barred spiral structure, now resembling much more an irregular galaxy. During a long time, the SMC, together with the LMC (still closer to us) were considered satellites of the Milky Way. Observations based on the HST have determined that these galaxies do not orbit the MW, but are simply Local Group members that are passing by us.
Additional Information
Object
Name(s): NGC 292. Small Magellanic Cloud
Type: Barred Spiral galaxy
RA: 00h 52m 36s
Dec: -72º 48’ 07”
Constellation: Tucana
Size (arcmin): 320×210
Magnitude: +2.3
Distance: 200,000 ly
Image
Date: 2015-09-10 thru 13
Location: iTelescope.net, SSO near Coonabarabran, NSW Australia
Size (arcmin): 240×240
Telescope: Takahashi FSQ 106 f/5
Camera: FLI PL16803 (4096x4096pix)
Guiding: yes
Total exposure: 220 min (L: 50 min; RGB: 170 min)
Processing: CCDStack, Photoshop CC 2016 and PixInsight