<p>The short answer is that the Magellanic clouds are not part of the Milky way;&nbsp;they are satellite galaxies of the Milky way. </p>

<p>The image below shows the Andromeda galaxy. Note the small extra galaxies, marked Messier 32 and Messier 110. They are not part of the Andromeda galaxy, but are satellites of it. They would appear like the Magellanic clouds of the Andromeda galaxy. <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/FVfze.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FVfze.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a> </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-19T17:30:55.727Z
Say, is that an actual photo, or a representation?
Fattie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-19T19:48:55.397Z
Its a photo of the Andromeda galaxy, from wikisky.  It's not, of course, a photo of the milky way.
James K
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-19T20:20:48.973Z
Thanks, I didn't realize M110 and M32 came out so clearly. Amazing stuff.  I guess, it would be impossible to see them that clearly just visually, even with a badass telescope.
Fattie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-29T22:12:49.877Z
They are Messier objects so can be seen with a reasonable telescope, but they won't look like the photograph!
adrianmcmenamin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-19T07:06:38.077Z
2016-11-20T20:13:50.573Z
2016-11-20T20:13:50.573Z
James K
<blockquote>
  <p>From a distance of 160,000 light years, the Large Magellanic Cloud looks at first glance like an isolated section of the Milky Way, running across southern Dorado into neighbouring Mensa.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Is the Large Magellanic Cloud contained in the Milky Way? I don't think it is, but I'm not entirely sure.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-19T04:29:10.000Z
Unclear what you're asking. The Large Magellanic Cloud is gravitationally bound to the Milky Way, but it's not in the disc. How do you define "in the Milky Way"?
Sir Cumference
<milky-way><magellanic-cloud>
Is the Large Magellanic Cloud contained in the Milky Way?
Purple Rain Kim
# Is the Large Magellanic Cloud contained in the Milky Way?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-11-19)

> From a distance of 160,000 light years, the Large Magellanic Cloud looks at first glance like an isolated section of the Milky Way, running across southern Dorado into neighbouring Mensa.

Is the Large Magellanic Cloud contained in the Milky Way? I don't think it is, but I'm not entirely sure.

**Tags:** milky-way, magellanic-cloud

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Unclear what you're asking. The Large Magellanic Cloud is gravitationally bound to the Milky Way, but it's not in the disc. How do you define "in the Milky Way"?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-11-19. Score: 7

The short answer is that the Magellanic clouds are not part of the Milky way; they are satellite galaxies of the Milky way.

The image below shows the Andromeda galaxy. Note the small extra galaxies, marked Messier 32 and Messier 110. They are not part of the Andromeda galaxy, but are satellites of it. They would appear like the Magellanic clouds of the Andromeda galaxy. [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/FVfze.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/FVfze.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Say, is that an actual photo, or a representation?  
> **username_2**: Its a photo of the Andromeda galaxy, from wikisky.  It's not, of course, a photo of the milky way.  
> **username_3**: Thanks, I didn't realize M110 and M32 came out so clearly. Amazing stuff.  I guess, it would be impossible to see them that clearly just visually, even with a badass telescope.  
> **username_4**: They are Messier objects so can be seen with a reasonable telescope, but they won't look like the photograph!  

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