The Origin of the Magellanic Stream and Its Leading Arm

The Magellanic Stream is a 100 degree long gaseous stream trailing behind the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, the two largest satellite galaxies of our Milky Way. We have used the Leiden-Argentine-Bonn all-sky HI survey to explore the structure and origin of the Mag-ellanic Stream. Contrary to previous assertions that the Stream originates in the Small Cloud, we have found that the Stream can be traced back to the southeastern region of the Large Cloud. We have also uncovered evidence that star formation in this region of the Large Magel-lanic Cloud is responsible for blowing out the gas that forms the Stream. This new formation mechanism for the Stream naturally explains its apparent lack of stars.