of Fixed Stars . The bright Canopes of Amerigo Vespucci (1454--1512) are probably the Magellanic Clouds . Ferdinand Magellan (1480--1521) on his circumnavigation 1519--1522 ( Magellan himself died in mid-voyage) finally brought them permanently into the historical record. Credit: NOAO/AURA/NSF . See also the SEDS LMC page . Question: Amerigo Vespucci