The Magellanic Clouds (sometimes abbreviated MC)
are two nearby galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC).
They are among the closest to the Milky Way and two of its
satellite galaxies, i.e., members of the Milky Way subgroup
of the Local Group. The two have long been recognized
and are of interest for being among the nearest and easiest
galaxies to observe from without, and for offering examples
of astronomical objects somewhat different than
those in the Milky Way, such as younger globular clusters,
and offering good views of some bright stars, because dust
within the Milky Way obscures our view of many of its stars.
The two have long been classified as irregular galaxies, but
more recently, refined classification has been developed regarding
their morphology: they are considered to be a type of spiral galaxy,
the term named after them: Magellanic spiral galaxies. They are
also classified as dwarf galaxies.