First-ever sighting of distant stars in the Magellanic Stream

Astronomers have discovered 13 stars within the Magellanic Stream, a vast ribbon of gas trailing behind the Magellanic Cloud galaxies, which are neighboring galaxies of the Milky Way. The discovery provides valuable insights into the distance, motion, and chemical makeup of the stream, extending its range from 150,000 to over 400,000 light-years away. This finding will enable researchers to map and model the Magellanic Stream in unprecedented detail, shedding light on the formation and interactions of the stream and the Magellanic Clouds with our galaxy.