Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Local Group

The Local Group is the group of galaxies that includes our galaxy, the Milky Way. The group is comprised of over 30 galaxies; its gravitational center is located somewhere between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy. The galaxies of the Local Group cover a 10 million light year diameter (see 1 E23 m for distance comparisons).


A member of the Local Group of galaxies, irregular galaxy Sextans A is 10 million light years distant. The bright Milky Way foreground stars appear yellowish in this view. Beyond them lie the stars of Sextans A with young blue star clusters clearly visible.

The two most massive members of the group are the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy. These two spirals each have a system of satellite galaxies. The Milky Way's satellite system consists of Sag DEG, Large Magellanic Cloud, Small Magellanic Cloud, Ursa Minor, Draco, Carina, Sectans, Sculptor, Fornax, Leo I, Leo II and Tucana. Andromeda's system is comprised of M32, M110, NGC 147, NGC 185, And I, And II, And III and And IV. M33, the third largest galaxy in the Local Group may or may not be a companion to the Andromeda galaxy but probably has LGS 3 as a satellite. The other members of the group are gravitionally secluded from these large subgroups.

See also

External link