Astronomy lesson

Since I was a young lad I've always had a fascination with the stars and the universe. If you know me, then you probably know that. As many of you know, or can deduce, there is a completely different visible sky in the southern hemisphere. The constellation Orion is completely upside down from this perspective, really threw me off the first time I saw it, although I did expect it. The most exciting thing for me to see though was the Large and Small Magellenic Clouds.

The Magellenic Clouds are irregular shaped galaxies, very near to our Milky Way. Until 1994, they were the closest known galaxies to our own. The Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy was discovered to orbit much closer though, only 70,ooo light years distance from earth, compared to the Large and Small Clouds which are approximately 150,000 and 200,000 light years away. After all these years being so fascinated by the clouds, I finally saw them. At 4:30am I stepped outside into the night, looked up and saw them clear as day. They were bright, I did not have to strain, or get out a star chart. I knew they would be easy to spot, but not that easy. I was very excited and wanted to tell somebody, but only Winston the cat was there. He was far more interested in the bowl of food I had just put down for him. I've seen them a couple times since, and every time and happy to stand and stare, despite the ridiculous hour at which I'm viewing them.