Improved VMC proper motions show SMC expansion along SE-NW axes consistent with LMC tides, radial inward motions with no rotation, and northward motion in older RGB stars from a prior interaction.
Clouds in Arms
1 Pith paper cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
1
Pith paper citing it
abstract
We use astrometry and broad-band photometry from Data Release 2 of the ESA's Gaia mission to map out low surface-brightness features in the stellar density distribution around the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. The LMC appears to have grown two thin and long stellar streams in its Northern and Southern regions, highly reminiscent of spiral arms. We use computer simulations of the Magellanic Clouds' in-fall to demonstrate that these arms were likely pulled out of the LMC's disc due to the combined influence of the SMC's most recent fly-by and the tidal field of the Milky Way.
fields
astro-ph.GA 1years
2026 1verdicts
UNVERDICTED 1representative citing papers
citing papers explorer
-
The VMC survey -- LV. The coherent expansion of the SMC
Improved VMC proper motions show SMC expansion along SE-NW axes consistent with LMC tides, radial inward motions with no rotation, and northward motion in older RGB stars from a prior interaction.