A Cosmic Crash Turned This Nearby Galaxy Into Chaos

Astronomers say the Small Magellanic Cloud likely collided with the Large Magellanic Cloud several hundred million years ago.

That impact appears to have disrupted the dwarf galaxy’s structure and erased normal stellar rotation.

Its gas may only seem to rotate because of the angle we observe it from, not because it is truly settled.

The finding reshapes how scientists use the SMC as a benchmark for galaxy evolution and star formation.