Redirected from The Local Group of Galaxies
Local Group is a proper name referring to the group of galaxies that our galaxy, the Milky Way, is part of. The Local Group is comprised of over 30 galaxies. The gravitational center of the group 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).
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 Groups and clusters of galaxies
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