The Local Group
describe the Local Group of galaxies
recall the names of some galaxies in the Local Group, including the Large and
Small Magellanic Clouds, Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the Triangulum Galaxy (M33)
demonstrate an understanding that galaxies are grouped in larger clusters and
superclusters.
Our galaxy, The Milky Way, is one of a bout 30 in The Local Group, a bunch of galaxies relatively close to each other.
| The Large Magellanic Cloud The 3rd closest galaxy to the Milky way and possibly a satellite of it. Irregular with a large bar in the centre. |
The Small Magellanic Cloud A dwarf galaxy. Again irregular with a prominent bar. |
Andromeda Galaxy M31 The nearest spiral galaxy to our own. In good conditions visible to the naked eye. |
Triangulum Galaxy M33 A spiral galaxy sometimes called the pinwheel galaxy. |
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In order of increasing size
Galaxy --> Group --> Cluster --> Super Cluster --> Universe
Galaxies in the Universe are not evenly distributed. We have seen that the Milky Way is one of a bunch called the Local Group.This group is one of many in a cluster of several thousand galaxies.
Up to 100 of these clusters make a larger group called a super cluster. Our cluster belongs in one called the Virgo super cluster.
The Universe contains millions of super clusters.