Astronomer Claire Murray of the Space Telescope Science Institute led the team that uncovered this galactic secret. By tracking young stars and gas clouds, they discovered two different star birth sites located thousands of light-years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud.
Both hidden galaxies are smaller than the Milky Way, but not by much. The larger one is estimated to be about one-fifth the width of our galaxy. They also differ in composition: One of them contains elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. Even more intriguing is the possible story of its origins.
First option: cosmic thrust gone awry. Gravity may have pulled these two dwarf galaxies towards each other in a galactic dance, leading to their current intertwined state. Second option: “sky robbery”. Our other closest moon, the Large Magellanic Cloud, may have formed its current configuration by accumulating gas from one of these hidden galaxies.
The exact distance between these celestial twins remains unclear, and understanding their origins will require further research. One thing is certain: This discovery rewrites our understanding of the Small Magellanic Cloud and raises fascinating questions about its formation and interaction with the Milky Way and its larger neighbor.
Source: Ferra
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