SIMULATIONS OF THE INTERACTING MAGELLANIC SYSTEM

  • GARDINER LANCE T. (Department of Physics, Sun Moon University) ;
  • NOGUCHI MASAFUMI (Astronomical Institute, Tohoku University)
  • Published : 1996.12.01

Abstract

The Galaxy and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC respectively) form a triple system of mutually interacting galaxies. We have carried out a set of N-body simulations on the gravitational interaction of the SMC with the Galaxy and the LMC in order to model prominent features such as the Magellanic Stream, the inter-Cloud Bridge, and the large depth of the SMC which are thought to be products of the tidal interactions among the members of this system.

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