Sky position of the two background stars RX J0439.8−6809 (at d< 13.3 kpc) and Sk −69 59 (at d> 45 kpc). The contours show the H i column density in the velocity range v_LSR = 100−165 km s^-1 in steps of 2 × 10¹⁸ cm^-2 starting at 2 × 10¹⁸ cm^-2, as observed in the 21cm Parkes multibeam survey of the LMC (adapted from Staveley-Smith et al. 2003). The HVC presumably is much more extended in ionized gas, as indicated by the detection of UV absorption outside the 21 cm boundaries (see also L09).