Astronomers Call for Renaming Magellanic Clouds to Address Colonialist Legacy

Astronomers are advocating for the renaming of the Large Magellanic Cloud and Small Magellanic Cloud, arguing that the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, after whom they are named, had a violent colonialist legacy and no connection to their discovery. The push for a name change is led by Dr. Mia de los Reyes, who argues that indigenous peoples had names for these galaxies that predate Magellan. Many astronomers support the renaming, as Magellan did not discover the galaxies. The proposal will be brought before the International Astronomical Union for a vote.