We examine the properties of the Magellanic Bridge connecting the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds using ab-type RR Lyrae variables from the extensive dataset of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment ( OGLE ) , Phase IV data release .
The metallicities of the RR Lyraes are determined from the characteristics of their light curves , with an average abundance of [ Fe/H ] = -1.790 \pm 0.011 ( sem ) in the Magellanic Bridge .
From the individual reddenings of these stars , derived via their minimum light curve colors , we determined a median color excess of E ( V–I ) = 0.101 \pm 0.007 ( sem ) ( implying E ( B-V ) \approx 0.077 ) .
The peak distance modulus of 18.57 \pm 0.048 ( sem ) places the Bridge stars at distances between the two systems .
The metallicity and distance distributions probe the structure of the Magellanic system as a whole , revealing a smooth transition that connects the galaxies .
An examination of the HI content does not find a clear correlation between HI emission strength and RR Lyrae spatial distribution , suggesting that the old stellar populations may trace the overlapping halo distributions of the two Magellanic Clouds .