This is a wide field image of the Large Magellanic Cloud. NGC 2070 (The Tarantula Nebula) is clearly visible at centre right, an N11 (The Bean Nebula) is in the lower left corner. In fact, the LMC is chocka with what astronomers refer to as DSOs, or deep space objects. Almost any condensed knot of light has a designation in one or more astronomical catalogues. The central bar of the dwarf galaxy is clearly visible in this image. It is thought that some of the LMC's spiral arms were ripped off in tidal interactions with the Small Magellanic Cloud and our own, much larger, Milky Way galaxy, which just goes to show that it's a galaxy-eat-galaxy universe out there. The LMC can be seen straddling the border of the Mensa and Dorado constellations, and is approximately 163 kly away.

 

Date: 21 October 2016
Constellation: Dorado/Mensa
R.A.: 05h 23m 35s
Dec.: -69° 45' 22"
Photo stuff: 50 subs@120s ea.; ISO 800; Canon 60Da with Canon 28-135mm; f/5.6