Large-scale structure of the Magellanic Clouds using planetary nebulae

Abstract

The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds (SMC, LMC) are of considerable interest from a kinematical viewpoint. The tidal interation of the Clouds with each other and with the Galaxy appears to have been quite significant in recent times (Murai & Fujimoto 1980). The SMC in particular appears to have been considerably disrupted by a recent close passage to the LMC (Mathewson & Ford 1984, Mathewson 1984, Mathewson et al. 1986). For the LMC Freeman et al. (1983) found that the young and old populations have significantly different rotation solutions.Planetary Nebulae (PN) form a population with age intermediate between the HI and young clusters and the old Population II clusters. A large number of PN are known in the MCs. Sanduleak et al. (1978) compiled a list of 102 in the LMC and 28 in the SMC. Since then other authors have increased the total number known to approximately 140 in the LMC and 50 in the SMC.