A new study has revealed that the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a small galaxy 200,000 light-years away, is being torn apart by the gravitational pull of its larger companion, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Researchers from Nagoya University in Japan used data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia spacecraft to analyze the motion of stars within the SMC.
The study found that some stars in the SMC are moving towards the LMC while others are moving away from it. This suggests that the gravitational influence of the LMC is causing the SMC to be “pulled apart”. The researchers also discovered that massive stars within the SMC are not rotating around the galaxy’s axis, which could alter our understanding of the galaxy’s mass and history.
The SMC, a dwarf galaxy located in our cosmic neighbourhood, offers a unique opportunity to study phenomena difficult to examine in more distant galaxies. Its proximity and brightness make it an ideal target for astronomers, who can observe the details of stellar motion without needing advanced equipment.
This research is crucial because it allows scientists to study the process of star formation connected with the motion of stars throughout the galaxy. The discovery sheds new light on the dynamics of our cosmic neighbourhood and the interactions between galaxies like the Milky Way, LMC, and SMC.
Source: https://www.ndtv.com/science/our-neighbouring-galaxy-is-being-torn-apart-scientists-make-shocking-discovery-8137514