Astronomers Call for Renaming the Magellanic Clouds

Astronomers are calling for the renaming of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), two satellite galaxies near the Milky Way, as they are currently named after Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer known for his violent actions against indigenous people. The coalition argues that Magellan was not an astronomer and was not the first to identify these clouds. They propose renaming the galaxies to reflect current societal values or to use non-personal names, such as Nubecula Major and Nubecula Minor. The group plans to push for a resolution with the International Astronomical Union.