<p>From the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellanic_Clouds" rel="noreferrer">Wikipedia article</a>, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds were observed prior to Magellan's expedition, and the name only stuck long after Magellan's expedition (at first, they were called <em>nubecula major</em> and <em>nubecula minor</em>, or <em>Large Cloud</em> and <em>Small Cloud</em>). So why were they finally named after Magellan?</p>

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Why were the Magellanic Clouds named that way?
usernumber
# Why were the Magellanic Clouds named that way?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-09-25)

From the [Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellanic_Clouds), the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds were observed prior to Magellan's expedition, and the name only stuck long after Magellan's expedition (at first, they were called *nubecula major* and *nubecula minor*, or *Large Cloud* and *Small Cloud*). So why were they finally named after Magellan?

**Tags:** history, naming, magellanic-cloud


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