The Large Magellanic Cloud, one of the most impressive sights in the night sky, is visible only from south of the equator. It is approximately 200,000 light years away and extends about 4 degrees across the sky (the full Moon, in contrast, spans about 1 degree). The Large Magellanic Cloud is the closest galaxy to our own Milky Way, although its structure is noticeably different. Unlike elliptical galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud is roughly disk-shaped, but it also lacks the sweeping arms common to spiral galaxies.
The movement of stars and gases within the cloud indicate that it is neither approaching nor moving away from the Milky Way. Astronomers think it is one of the
