This very wide field photo captures both the Small (SMC) and large (LMC) Magellanic Clouds.
These two objects are actually galaxies which orbit our own milky way galaxy. The SMC is a
dwarf irregular galaxy located approximately 197,000 light years away. The LMC is dwarf
spiral galaxy located about 163,000 light years from earth. Both objects can be spotted
easily with the naked eye from a reasonably dark sky location. If you happen to be
travelling in a country location, away from the city lights, take time out to observe these
interesting objects and contemplate the possibility that there could be intelligent life
forms in among those stars looking back at us. The bright object just above and to the right
of the SMC is the spectacular globular cluster 47 Tucana.