Divided into social groups, our Milky Way galaxy will belong to a strong "middle class". So, it belongs to the most common type of galaxy, but at the same time it is not average in size or mass. There are more galaxies that are smaller than the Milky Way than those that are larger than it. Our "star island" also has at least 14 satellites - other dwarf galaxies. They are doomed to circle the Milky Way until they are consumed by it, or fly away from an intergalactic collision. Well, so far this is the only place where life certainly exists - that is, we are with you.
But still the Milky Way remains the most mysterious galaxy in the Universe: being on the very edge of the "star island", we see only a part of its billions of stars. And the galaxy is completely invisible - it is covered with dense sleeves of stars, gas and dust. The facts and secrets of the Milky Way will be discussed today.
Scientists have known for some time that the Milky Way Galaxy is not the only one in the universe. In addition to our galaxy, which is part of the Local Group - a collection of 54 galaxies and dwarf galaxies - we are also part of a larger entity known as the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. So, we can say that the Milky Way has many neighbors.
Of these, most people believe that the Andromeda Galaxy is our closest galactic cohabitant. But truth be told, Andromeda is the closest spiral Galaxy, but not the nearest galaxy at all. This distinction falls to the point of forming what is actually within the Milky Way itself, but a dwarf galaxy, which is known by the name Canis Major Gnome Galax (aka. Canis Major).
This star formation is located about 42,000 light-years from the galactic center and only 25,000 light-years from our solar system. This puts it closer to us than the center of our own galaxy, which is 30,000 light-years away from the solar system.
Prior to its discovery, astronomers believed that the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy was the closest galactic formation to our own. At 70,000 light-years from Earth, this galaxy was determined in 1994 to be closer to us than the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy 180,000 light-years away that previously held the title of our nearest neighbor.
That all changed in 2003, when the Canis Major dwarf galaxy was discovered by the 2 Micron Panoramic Survey (2MASS), during an astronomical mission that took place between 1997 and 2001.
With the help of telescopes located on the MT. Hopkins Observatory in Arizona (for the Northern Hemisphere) and at the Inter-American Observatory in Chile for the Southern Hemisphere, astronomers have been able to conduct a comprehensive survey of the sky in infrared light, which is not blocked by gas and dust as brutally as visible light.
Because of this technique, astronomers have been able to detect a very significant density of class M giant stars in the sky occupied by the constellation Canis Major, as well as several other associated structures within this type of star, two of which appear as wide, swooning arcs (as seen in the image above ).
The abundance of M-class stars is what made the formation easy to spot. These cool, "red dwarfs" aren't very bright compared to other classes of stars, and can't even be seen with the naked eye. However, they are very bright in infrared, and have appeared in large numbers.
In addition to its composition, the Galaxy has a near elliptical shape and is believed to contain as many stars as the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy, the previous contender for the closest galaxy to our location in the Milky Way.
In addition to the dwarf galaxy, a long string of stars is visible trailing behind it. This complex, ring structure - sometimes called the Monoceros ring - warps around the galaxy three times. The stream was first detected in the early 21st century by astronomers conducting the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
It was during the investigation of this ring of stars, and closely spaced groups of globular clusters similar to those associated with Sagittarius dwarf elliptical galaxies, that the Canis Major dwarf galaxy was discovered.
The current theory is that this galaxy was fused (or swallowed up) into the Milky Way Galaxy. Other globular clusters orbiting the center of the Milky Way as a satellite - that is, either NGC 1851, NGC 1904, NGC 2298 and NGC 2808 - are believed to have been part of the big dog of the dwarf galaxy prior to its accretion.
The discovery of this galaxy, and subsequent analysis of the stars associated with it, provides some support for the current theory that galaxies can grow in size by swallowing their smaller neighbors. The Milky Way became what it is now, eating up other galaxies like a big dog, and it continues to do so today. And since the stars of the canis major dwarf galaxy are technically already part of the Milky Way, it is, by definition, the closest galaxy to us.
Astronomers also believe that canis major dwarf galaxies are pulling apart the gravitational field of the more massive Milky Way galaxy in the process. The main body of the galaxy is already extremely degraded, and this process will continue as it travels around and through our Galaxy. During the accretion is likely to end with a large dog dwarf galaxy deposited 1 billion stars per 200 m0 400 billion, which are already part of the Milky Way.
Prior to its discovery in 2003, it was the Sagittarius dwarf elliptical galaxy that held the position of being the closest galaxy to our own. At a distance of 75,000 light years. This dwarf galaxy, which consists of four globular clusters that measure about 10,000 light-years in diameter, was discovered in 1994. Prior to this, the Large Magellanic Cloud was thought to be our nearest neighbor.
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the closest spiral galaxy to us. Although - gravitationally - connected to the Milky Way, it is still not the nearest Galaxy - 2 million light-years away. Andromeda is currently approaching our galaxy at a speed of about 110 kilometers per second. In about 4 billion years, the Andromeda Galaxy is expected to merge to form a single Super Galaxy.
A galaxy is a large formation of stars, gas, dust, which are held together by the force of gravity. These largest compounds in the universe can vary in shape and size. Most of the space objects are part of a particular galaxy. These are stars, planets, satellites, nebulae, black holes and asteroids. Some of the galaxies have a lot of invisible dark energy. Due to the fact that the galaxies are separated by empty outer space, they are figuratively called oases in the cosmic desert.
| elliptical galaxy | spiral galaxy | wrong galaxy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| spheroidal component | entire galaxy | There is | Very weak |
| stellar disk | No or weak | Main component | Main component |
| Gas and dust disk | Not | There is | There is |
| spiral branches | None or only near the core | There is | Not |
| Active cores | Meet | Meet | Not |
| 20% | 55% | 5% |
Our galaxy
Our closest star, the Sun, is one of the billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Looking at the night starry sky, it is hard not to notice a wide band strewn with stars. The ancient Greeks called the cluster of these stars the Galaxy.
If we had the opportunity to look at this star system from the outside, we would have noticed an oblate ball, in which there are over 150 billion stars. Our galaxy has dimensions that are hard to imagine in your imagination. A beam of light travels from one side of it to the other for a hundred thousand Earth years! The center of our Galaxy is occupied by the core, from which huge spiral branches filled with stars depart. The distance from the Sun to the nucleus of the Galaxy is 30,000 light years. The solar system is located on the outskirts of the Milky Way.
Stars in the Galaxy, despite the huge accumulation of cosmic bodies, are rare. For example, the distance between the nearest stars is tens of millions of times greater than their diameters. It cannot be said that the stars are scattered randomly in the Universe. Their location depends on the forces of gravity that hold the celestial body in a certain plane. Star systems with their gravitational fields are called galaxies. In addition to stars, the composition of the galaxy includes gas and interstellar dust.
composition of galaxies.
The universe is also made up of many other galaxies. The closest to us are distant at a distance of 150 thousand light years. They can be seen in the sky of the southern hemisphere in the form of small hazy specks. They were first described by a member of the Magellanic expedition around the world of Pigafett. They entered science under the name of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.
The closest galaxy to us is the Andromeda Nebula. It has a very large size, so it is visible from the Earth with ordinary binoculars, and in clear weather - even with the naked eye.
The very structure of the galaxy resembles a giant spiral convex in space. On one of the spiral arms, ¾ of the distance from the center, is the solar system. Everything in the galaxy revolves around the central core and obeys the force of its gravity. In 1962, astronomer Edwin Hubble classified galaxies according to their shape. The scientist divided all galaxies into elliptical, spiral, irregular and barred galaxies.
There are billions of galaxies in the part of the Universe available for astronomical research. Collectively, astronomers call them the Metagalaxy.
Galaxies of the Universe
Galaxies are represented by large groupings of stars, gas, dust, held together by gravity. They can vary greatly in shape and size. Most space objects belong to a galaxy. These are black holes, asteroids, stars with satellites and planets, nebulae, neutron satellites.
Most of the universe's galaxies contain vast amounts of invisible dark energy. Since the space between different galaxies is considered empty, they are often called oases in the void of space. For example, a star called the Sun is one of the billions of stars in the "Milky Way" galaxy in our universe. At ¾ of the distance from the center of this spiral is the solar system. In this galaxy, everything is constantly moving around the central core, which obeys its gravity. However, the core also moves along with the galaxy. At the same time, all galaxies move at superspeeds.
Astronomer Edwin Hubble in 1962 carried out a logical classification of the galaxies of the universe, taking into account their shape. Now galaxies are divided into 4 main groups: elliptical, spiral, galaxies with a bar (bar) and irregular.
What is the largest galaxy in our universe?
The largest galaxy in the universe is the super-giant lenticular galaxy in the Abell 2029 cluster.
spiral galaxies
They are galaxies that in their shape resemble a flat spiral disk with a bright center (core). The Milky Way is a typical spiral galaxy. Spiral galaxies are usually called with the letter S, they are divided into 4 subgroups: Sa, So, Sc and Sb. Galaxies belonging to the So group are distinguished by bright nuclei that do not have spiral arms. As for the Sa galaxies, they are distinguished by dense spiral arms tightly wrapped around the central core. The arms of the Sc and Sb galaxies rarely surround the core.
Spiral galaxies in the Messier catalog
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barred galaxies
Barred galaxies are similar to spiral galaxies, but still have one difference. In such galaxies, spirals do not start from the core, but from the bridges. About 1/3 of all galaxies fall into this category. They are usually denoted by the letters SB. In turn, they are divided into 3 subgroups Sbc, SBb, SBa. The difference between these three groups is determined by the shape and length of the bridges, from where, in fact, the arms of the spirals begin.
Messier barred spiral galaxies
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elliptical galaxies
The shape of galaxies can vary from perfectly round to elongated ovals. Their distinguishing feature is the absence of a central bright core. They are designated by the letter E and are divided into 6 subgroups (by shape). Such forms are designated from E0 to E7. The former are almost round in shape, while the E7 are characterized by an extremely elongated shape.
Elliptical galaxies in the Messier catalog
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Irregular galaxies
They do not have any pronounced structure or shape. Irregular galaxies are usually divided into 2 classes: IO and Im. The most common is the Im class of galaxies (it has only a slight hint of structure). In some cases, spiral remnants are traced. IO belongs to a class of galaxies that are chaotic in shape. The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds are a prime example of the Im class.
Messier catalog irregular galaxies
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Table of characteristics of the main types of galaxies
| elliptical galaxy | spiral galaxy | wrong galaxy | |
| spheroidal component | entire galaxy | There is | Very weak |
| stellar disk | No or weak | Main component | Main component |
| Gas and dust disk | Not | There is | There is |
| spiral branches | None or only near the core | There is | Not |
| Active cores | Meet | Meet | No |
| Percentage of the total number of galaxies | 20% | 55% | 5% |
Large portrait of galaxies
Not so long ago, astronomers began working on a collaborative project to determine the location of galaxies throughout the universe. Their task is to get a more detailed picture of the general structure and shape of the universe on a large scale. Unfortunately, the scale of the universe is difficult to estimate for understanding by many people. Take at least our galaxy, consisting of more than a hundred billion stars. There are billions more galaxies in the universe. Distant galaxies have been discovered, but we see their light as it was almost 9 billion years ago (we are separated by such a large distance).
Astronomers became aware that most galaxies belonged to a particular group (it became known as a "cluster"). The Milky Way is part of a cluster, which, in turn, consists of forty known galaxies. As a rule, most of these clusters are part of an even larger grouping, which is called superclusters.
Our cluster is part of a supercluster commonly referred to as the Virgo Cluster. Such a massive cluster consists of more than 2 thousand galaxies. At the same time that astronomers mapped the location of these galaxies, superclusters began to take shape. Large superclusters have gathered around what appear to be gigantic bubbles or voids. What kind of structure this is, no one knows yet. We do not understand what can be inside these voids. By assumption, they can be filled with a certain type of dark matter unknown to scientists, or they can have empty space inside. It will be a long time before we know the nature of such voids.
Galactic Computing
Edwin Hubble is the founder of galactic research. He is the first to figure out how to calculate the exact distance to a galaxy. In his research, he relied on the method of pulsating stars, which are better known as Cepheids. The scientist was able to notice the relationship between the period that is needed to complete one pulsation of brightness, and the energy that the star releases. The results of his research were a major breakthrough in the field of galactic research. In addition, he found that there is a correlation between the red spectrum emitted by a galaxy and its distance (the Hubble constant).
Nowadays, astronomers can measure the distance and speed of a galaxy by measuring the amount of redshift in the spectrum. It is known that all galaxies of the Universe move from each other. The further the galaxy is from the Earth, the greater its speed of movement.
To visualize this theory, it is enough to imagine yourself driving a car that moves at a speed of 50 km per hour. A car in front of you is driving faster at 50 km per hour, which indicates that the speed of its movement is 100 km per hour. There is another car in front of him, which is moving faster by another 50 km per hour. Even though the speed of all 3 cars will be 50 km/h different, the first car is actually moving away from you 100 km/h faster. Since the red spectrum indicates the speed of the galaxy moving away from us, the following is obtained: the greater the redshift, the faster the galaxy moves, respectively, and the greater its distance from us.
Now we have new tools to help scientists in their search for new galaxies. Thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope, scientists have been able to see what they could only dream of before. The high power of this telescope provides good visibility of even small details in nearby galaxies and allows you to study more distant ones that have not yet been known to anyone. Currently, new tools for space observation are under development, and in the near future they will help to gain a deeper understanding of the structure of the universe.
Types of galaxies
- spiral galaxies. In shape, they resemble a flat spiral disk with a pronounced center, the so-called core. Our Milky Way galaxy belongs to this category. In this section of the portal site you will find many different articles describing the space objects of our Galaxy.
- Barred galaxies. They resemble spiral ones, only they differ from them in one significant difference. Spirals do not depart from the core, but from the so-called jumpers. This category includes a third of all galaxies in the universe.
- Elliptical galaxies come in a variety of shapes, from perfectly round to oval-shaped. Compared to spiral ones, they lack a central, pronounced core.
- Irregular galaxies do not have a characteristic shape or structure. They cannot be attributed to any of the above types. There are far fewer irregular galaxies in the vastness of the universe.
Astronomers have recently launched a joint project to identify the location of all galaxies in the universe. Scientists hope to get a better picture of its structure on a large scale. The size of the universe is difficult to estimate for human thinking and understanding. Our galaxy alone is a connection of hundreds of billions of stars. And there are billions of such galaxies. We can see the light from the discovered distant galaxies, but do not even mean that we are looking into the past, because the light beam reaches us for tens of billions of years, such a great distance separates us.
Astronomers also associate most galaxies with certain groups called clusters. Our Milky Way belongs to a cluster of 40 explored galaxies. Such clusters are combined into large groupings called superclusters. The cluster with our galaxy is part of the Virgo supercluster. This giant cluster contains over 2,000 galaxies. As scientists began to map the distribution of these galaxies, superclusters took on certain shapes. Most of the galactic superclusters were surrounded by giant voids. No one knows what could be inside these voids: outer space like interplanetary space or a new form of matter. It will take a long time to solve this riddle.
Interaction of galaxies
No less interesting for scientists is the question of the interaction of galaxies as components of space systems. It's no secret that space objects are in constant motion. Galaxies are no exception to this rule. Some of the types of galaxies could cause a collision or merger of two space systems. If you look into how these space objects appear, large-scale changes as a result of their interaction become more understandable. During the collision of two space systems, a huge amount of energy splashes out. The meeting of two galaxies in the vastness of the Universe is an even more probable event than the collision of two stars. The collision of galaxies does not always end in an explosion. A small space system can freely pass by its larger counterpart, changing only slightly its structure.
Thus, formations are formed that are similar in appearance to elongated corridors. Stars and gas zones stand out in their composition, new luminaries often form. There are times when galaxies do not collide, but only lightly touch each other. However, even such an interaction triggers a chain of irreversible processes that lead to huge changes in the structure of both galaxies.
What is the future of our galaxy?
As scientists suggest, it is possible that in the distant future the Milky Way will be able to absorb a tiny satellite system, which is located at a distance of 50 light years from us. Studies show that this satellite has a long life potential, but if it collides with a giant neighbor, it will most likely end its separate existence. Astronomers also predict a collision between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Nebula. Galaxies move towards each other at the speed of light. Before a likely collision, wait about three billion Earth years. However, whether it will actually happen now is hard to argue due to the lack of data on the motion of both space systems.
Description of galaxiesKvant. Space
The portal site will take you to the world of interesting and fascinating space. You will learn the nature of the construction of the Universe, get acquainted with the structure of known large galaxies and their components. By reading articles about our galaxy, some of the phenomena that can be observed in the night sky become more understandable to us.
All galaxies are at a great distance from the Earth. Only three galaxies can be seen with the naked eye: the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds and the Andromeda Nebula. It is impossible to count all galaxies. Scientists suggest that their number is about 100 billion. The spatial arrangement of galaxies is uneven - one region can contain a huge number of them, in the second there will not be even a single small galaxy at all. Astronomers failed to separate the image of galaxies from individual stars until the early 1990s. At that time, there were about 30 galaxies with individual stars. All of them were assigned to the Local group. In 1990, a majestic event took place in the development of astronomy as a science - the Hubble telescope was launched into Earth's orbit. It is this technique, as well as new ground-based 10-meter telescopes, that made it possible to see a much larger number of resolved galaxies.
Today, the "astronomical minds" of the world are puzzling over the role of dark matter in the construction of galaxies, which manifests itself only in gravitational interaction. For example, in some large galaxies it makes up about 90% of the total mass, while dwarf galaxies may not contain it at all.
Evolution of galaxies
Scientists believe that the emergence of galaxies is a natural stage in the evolution of the Universe, which took place under the influence of gravitational forces. Approximately 14 billion years ago, the formation of protoclusters in the primary matter began. Further, under the influence of various dynamic processes, the separation of galactic groups took place. The abundance of galaxy shapes is explained by the variety of initial conditions in their formation.
It takes about 3 billion years to compress a galaxy. Over a given period of time, the gas cloud turns into a star system. Star formation occurs under the influence of gravitational compression of gas clouds. After reaching a certain temperature and density in the center of the cloud, sufficient for the start of thermonuclear reactions, a new star is formed. Massive stars are formed from thermonuclear chemical elements that are larger than helium in mass. These elements create the primary helium-hydrogen environment. During grandiose explosions of supernovae, elements heavier than iron are formed. It follows from this that the galaxy consists of two generations of stars. The first generation are the oldest stars, consisting of helium, hydrogen and a very small amount of heavy elements. Second-generation stars have a more noticeable admixture of heavy elements, since they are formed from a primordial gas enriched in heavy elements.
In modern astronomy, galaxies as cosmic structures are given a separate place. The types of galaxies, the features of their interaction, similarities and differences are studied in detail, and a forecast of their future is made. This area contains many more incomprehensible things that require further study. Modern science has solved many questions regarding the types of construction of galaxies, but there are also many blank spots associated with the formation of these cosmic systems. The current pace of modernization of research equipment, the development of new methodologies for the study of space bodies give hope for a significant breakthrough in the future. One way or another, galaxies will always be at the center of scientific research. And it is based not only on human curiosity. Having received data on the patterns of development of space systems, we will be able to predict the future of our galaxy called the Milky Way.
The most interesting news, scientific, author's articles about the study of galaxies will be provided to you by the portal site. Here you can find breathtaking videos, high-quality images from satellites and telescopes that do not leave you indifferent. Dive into the world of unknown space with us!
Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Extragalactic nebulae or island universes, giant star systems that also contain interstellar gas and dust. The solar system is part of our Milky Way Galaxy. All outer space to the limits where they can penetrate ... ... Collier Encyclopedia
Giant (up to hundreds of billions of stars) star systems; these include, in particular, our Galaxy. Galaxies are divided into elliptical (E), spiral (S) and irregular (Ir). The nearest galaxies to us are the Magellanic Clouds (Ir) and the nebula ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
Giant stellar systems similar to our stellar system, the Galaxy (See Galaxy), which includes the Solar System. (The term "galaxies", in contrast to the term "Galaxy", is written with a lowercase letter.) Obsolete name G. ... ...
Giant (up to hundreds of billions of stars) star systems; these include, in particular, our Galaxy. Galaxies are divided into elliptical (E), spiral (S) and irregular (Ir). The nearest galaxies to us are the Magellanic Clouds (Ir) and the nebula ... ... Astronomical dictionary
galaxies- giant star systems with the number of stars from tens to hundreds of billions in each. Modern estimates give about 150 million galaxies in the known Metagalaxy. Galaxies are divided into elliptical (indicated in astronomy by the letter E), ... ... Beginnings of modern natural science
Giant (up to hundreds of billions of stars) star systems; these include, in particular, our Galaxy. G. are subdivided into elliptical. (E), spiral (S) and irregular (Ir). The closest to us G. Magellanic Clouds (Ir) and the Andromeda Nebula (S). G.… … Natural science. encyclopedic Dictionary
The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) and its satellite NGC 5195. Photograph from the Kitt Peak Observatory. Interacting galaxies galaxies close enough in space that mutual gravity is significant in ... Wikipedia
Star systems that differ in shape from spiral and elliptical systems by randomness, raggedness. Sometimes there are N. g., which do not have a clear form, amorphous. They consist of stars with an admixture of dust, while most N. g. ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- ... Wikipedia
Books
- Galaxies, Avedisova Veta Sergeevna, Surdin Vladimir Georgievich, Vibe Dmitry Zigfridovich. The fourth book in the series "Astronomy and Astrophysics" contains an overview of modern ideas about giant star systems - galaxies. It is told about the history of the discovery of galaxies, about their ...
- Galaxies, Surdin VG. The fourth book from the series "Astronomy and Astrophysics" contains an overview of modern ideas about giant star systems - galaxies. It is told about the history of the discovery of galaxies, about their ...
What is the distance to the nearest galaxy? March 12th, 2013
Scientists for the first time were able to measure the exact distance to the nearest galaxy from us. This dwarf galaxy is known as Large Magellanic Cloud. It is located at a distance of 163 thousand light years from us, or 49.97 kiloparsecs, to be exact.
Galaxy Large Magellanic Cloud slowly floats in outer space, bypassing our galaxy Milky Way around like the moon revolves around the earth.
Huge clouds of gas around the galaxy are slowly dissipating, resulting in the formation of new stars that illuminate interstellar space with their light, creating bright colorful cosmic landscapes. These landscapes were photographed by a space telescope Hubble.
The small galaxy Large Magellanic Cloud includes the Tarantula Nebula - the brightest stellar cradle in space in our neighborhood - it has been seen signs of the formation of new stars.
Scientists were able to do the calculations by observing rare, close pairs of stars known as eclipsing binary stars. These pairs of stars are gravitationally bound together, and when one of the stars outshines the other, as seen by an observer from Earth, the overall brightness of the system decreases.
If you compare the brightness of the stars, you can calculate the exact distance to them with incredible accuracy in this way.
Determining the exact distance to space objects is very important for understanding the size and age of our universe. So far, the question remains open: what is the size of our Universe, none of the scientists can say for sure yet.
Once astronomers have been able to achieve such accuracy in determining distances in space, they will be able to look at more distant objects and, ultimately, will be able to calculate the size of the universe.
Also, new features will allow us to more accurately determine the expansion rate of our Universe, as well as more accurately calculate Hubble constant. This coefficient was named after Edwin P. Hubble, the American astronomer who proved in 1929 that our universe has been constantly expanding since the very beginning of its existence.
distance between galaxies
The Large Magellanic Cloud Galaxy is the closest dwarf galaxy from us, but the largest galaxy in size is considered to be our neighbor Andromeda spiral galaxy, which is located at a distance of about 2.52 million light years from us.
The distance between our galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy is gradually shrinking. They are approaching each other at a speed of about 100-140 kilometers per second, although they will meet very soon, or rather, in 3-4 billion years.
Perhaps this is what the night sky will look like to an earthly observer in a few billion years.
The distances between galaxies, therefore, can be very different at different stages of time, since they are constantly in dynamics.
The scale of the universe
The visible Universe has an incredible diameter, which is billions, and maybe tens of billions of light years. Many of the objects that we can see with telescopes are no longer there or look completely different because the light traveled before them for an incredibly long time.
The proposed series of illustrations will help you to imagine at least in general terms the scale of our universe.
The solar system with its largest objects (planets and dwarf planets)
Sun (center) and nearest stars
The Milky Way galaxy showing the group of star systems closest to the solar system
A group of nearby galaxies, including more than 50 galaxies, the number of which is constantly increasing as new ones are discovered.
Local supercluster of galaxies (Virgo Supercluster). Size - about 200 million light years
Group of superclusters of galaxies
Visible Universe
