Similarity between gemini and centaurus

[timwetherell]

I'm sure I'm by no means the first person to notice this, but out last night in Australia with Gemini on one horizon and Centaurus on the opposite horizon - struck me how similar they are! Both have bright twin stars of roughly equal magnitudes separated from each other by about 5°. Alpha star in each case is a roughly equal double with a couple of arc seconds separation. Can't be many places on earth and many times of year/night that one could see that. It's of no monumental significance but it's something that never occurred to me before Stitching in the attached panorama is a bit rough, but shows the visual effect well.

[LukeSkywatcher]

I just cant take my eyes off of the SMC or is it the LMC?.

[timwetherell]

I think it's the large. But the distortion in the photo has kind of elongated it into something that really looks like a little galaxy!

[LukeSkywatcher]

I think it's the large. But the distortion in the photo has kind of elongated it into something that really looks like a little galaxy!

I think the LMC and the SMC are indeed galaxies. They are either two galaxies that have collided in the past or one that has been ripped apart somehow.

Dont quote me on that. I do seem to remember reading somewhere that they are the result of 2 galaxies colliding.

I hope i get the chance to see them for myself one day.

[Joves]

Spot on, Paul. The Magellanic Clouds are satellite galaxies to our Milky Way. Not sure if both are considered dwarf galaxies, but the SMC definitely is.

[Joves]

I'm pretty sure you've captured both in that pic, btw, Tim.