The Small Magellanic Cloud, or Nubecula Minor, is a dwarf galaxy near the Milky Way. Classified as a dwarf irregular galaxy, the SMC has a diameter of about 7,000 light-years, contains several hundred million stars, and has a total mass of approximately 7 billion solar masses.

Distance to Earth: 199,000 light years

Radius: 3,500 light years

Apparent mass: ~6.5 billion M☉

Apparent size (V): 5° 20′ × 3° 5′

Coordinates: RA 0h 52m 45s | Dec -72° 49′ 43″

Did you know: Hubble has captured the most detailed images to date of the open star clusters NGC 265 and NGC 290 in the Small Magellanic Cloud - two sparkling sets of gemstones in the southern sky.