The Small Magellanic Cloud

This huge star cluster is actually an irregular galaxy visible only from the Southern Hemisphere. It was Magellan's round-the-world expedition that popularized it: he thought it was a cloud… Top left is the globular cluster 47 Tucanae (NGC 104).

Skywatcher Esprit 80 ED refractor, Canon EOS 6D Astrodon modded. Total exposure time : 12 hours. Mosaic of 4 tiles. Acquisitions: my wife Sabine Gloaguen.