Infrared properties of the Magellanic Clouds

Integrated infrared maps of the Magellanic Clouds are shown. The far-infrared spectra of the Magellanic Clouds are very similar and resemble the NGC 4449 spectrum. They show an average dust temperature of 35K. There is less 12 μm excess emission from the Clouds than from M31. The 60 μm luminosity of the LMC equals that of M31. The dust temperature map resembles the infrared map of the Clouds, but there is an anti-correlation between 12/25 μm and 60/100 μm showing that the 12 μm ''excess'' is due to the infrared cirrus component. At a resolution of 15' there is a reasonably good correspondence between the dust and HI gas distributions, that breaks down at high intensity levels