2007-10-20 17:00:39 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The closest galaxies to the Milkyway are three dwarf galaxies being absorbed into it right now. The Sagittarius and Canis Major dwarfs are some 80,000 and 25,000 light years away respectively. The Carina dwarf, or what's left of it, is now a stream of stars stretched halfway around the sky. The Magellanic Clouds, the two largest satellite galaxies to our own are 170,000 and 200,000 light years away whereas M-31, the closest large spiral galaxy to us is some 2.7 million light years away. Several billion years from now, it will either collide with the Milky Way or come so close that both galaxies will be distorted and stars ripped loose. Eventually both galaxies will merge into a much larger galaxy, most likely an elliptical galaxy which are spherical, lens or football shaped.
2007-10-20 17:40:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The nearest galaxy is the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy, about 25000 ly fromt he nearest part of our galaxy. Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy is a little further away. They're both in the process of interacting with the Milky Way.
The nearest galaxies of any real size are the Larger and Smaller Magellanic clouds, which are irregular galaxies in the southern sky. The LMC is about 140000 ly away, the SMC 200000 ly away.
Andromeda is the nearest large spiral.
2007-10-20 17:14:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy is 80,000 light-years away.
2007-10-20 18:33:18 · answer #3 · answered by Richard_CA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you consider satellites of the Milky Way galaxies, then current observations show that the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy (at 25,000 light years) is the closest.
If you don't count satellites, the closest independant one is the Leo II Dwarf Galaxy at 680,000.
If you don't count dwarf galaxies, then the closest non-dwarf non-satellite one is Barnard's Galaxy (NGC 6822, a barred irregular) at 1,630,000 light years.
2007-10-20 17:25:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If there are other beings in another galaxy do you think they call ours the milkyway?
2007-10-20 17:12:06 · answer #5 · answered by chilicooker_mkb 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Andromeda galaxy is at 2.3 million light years is the nearest. The two magellanic clouds are irregular galaxies that are a little more off.
2007-10-20 17:07:31 · answer #6 · answered by adrian r 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I think there may be some "dwarf" galaxies closer than Andromeda - but I don't recall the distances.
2007-10-20 17:07:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the closest galaxy is the Andromeda galaxy at about 2 million lightyears. there on a collision course, and in about 2 million years they will collide.
2007-10-20 17:03:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋