COSMOS MAGAZINE
Large galaxies like our own, the Milky Way, are often orbited by smaller satellite galaxies that buzz about like bees around a hive.
The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and its larger companion, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), are some of our closest dwarf galaxies, and can even be seen with the naked eye in the southern hemisphere at night.
But new research from Japan suggests that the gravitational pull of the LMC might be tearing the smaller SMC apart.
Credit: NASA Hubble Space Telescope.
Scientists observed over 7,000 massive stars in the SMC and found unusual movements – stars on opposite sides moving in different directions.
These stars appear to be pulled toward or away from the LMC, indicating the SMC is being disrupted.
Credit: Satoya Nakano
Surprisingly, the SMC shows no signs of rotating, which also means its hydrogen gas isn’t rotating, challenging previous assumptions.
Credit: NASA Hubble Space Telescope.
Velocities of massive star candidates within the SMC shown as vectors. The colors of the arrows represent the direction of motion. Relative to the LMC, located at the bottom left of the image, most red arrows show movement towards the LMC, whereas most light blue arrows show movement away from the LMC, suggesting they are being pulled apart. Credit: Satoya Nakano
If the SMC is indeed not rotating, previous estimates of its mass and its interaction history with the Milky Way and LMC might need to be revised.
This could potentially change our understanding of the history of the 3-body interaction between the Magellanic Clouds and the Milky Way.
Co-lead researcher, Satoya Nakano, Nagoya University.
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