Local Group

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The Local Group is the group of galaxies that includes our galaxy, the Milky Way. The group comprises over 30 galaxies, with its gravitational center 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). The group belongs to the Virgo Supercluster.

File:Tastga73.gif
Map of the local group

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, Canis Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Carina, Sextans, Sculptor, Fornax, Leo I, Leo II and Tucana. Andromeda's system comprises 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.

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.


  • Indentification Unclear
    • Andromeda IV - Irregular Galaxy or Star Cloud (Irr?) in Andromeda
    • UGC-A 86 (0355+66) - Irregular, Elliptical or Lenticular Galaxy (Irr, dE or S0) in Camelopardalis
    • UGC-A 92 (EGB0427+63) - Irregular or Lenticular Galaxy (Irr or S0) in Camelopardalis
  • Probable non-members
    • NGC 404 - Elliptical or Lenticular Galaxy (E0 or SA(s)0- in Andromeda
    • NGC 1569 - Irregular Galaxy (Irp+ III-IV) in Camelopardalis
    • NGC 1560 (IC 2062) - Spiral Galaxy (Sd) in Camelopardalis
    • Camelopardalis A - Irregular Galaxy (Irr) in Camelopardalis
    • Argo Dwarf - Irregular Galaxy (Irr) in Carina
    • 2318-42 - Irregular Galaxy (Irr) in Grus
    • UKS 2323-326 - Irregular Galaxy (Irr) in Sculptor
    • UGC 9128 (DDO 187) - Irregular Galaxy (Irp+) in Boötes
    • Capricornus Dwarf is a Milky Way Globular Cluster formerly classified as a Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
    • Ursa Major Dwarf
    • Sextans C

See also