Magellanic Stream

The Magellanic Stream is a large, gaseous ribbon trailing behind the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds—two dwarf galaxies near the Milky Way. It spans over 100,000 light-years and is composed mainly of hydrogen gas. This stream forms as these satellite galaxies interact gravitationally with our galaxy, causing some of their gas to be pulled away and stretched out into a long trail. The Magellanic Stream provides valuable insights into galaxy interactions, gas transfer, and the dynamics of our local cosmic environment.