David's Astronomy Pages Stellar & Deep Sky
Local Galaxy Group

The Local Group is the galaxy group that includes the Milky Way. It comprises more than 54 galaxies, most of them being dwarf galaxies. Its gravitational center is located somewhere between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy.

Local Group Galaxies (with distance in million light years)
Bullet Segue 1 - Faint Dwarf Galaxy - 0.075 mly
Bullet PGC 34176 - Elliptical Galaxy (Leo II / Leo B, Local Group) - 0.75 mly
Bullet PGC 29488 - Elliptical Galaxy (Leo I, Local Group) - 0.9 mly
Bullet NGC 6822 - Irregular Galaxy (Barnard's Galaxy) - 1.8 mly
Bullet NGC 185 - Elliptical Galaxy - 2.3 mly
Bullet NGC 147 - Local Group Galaxy - 2.4 mly
Bullet M31 - Spiral Galaxy (Andromeda Galaxy) - 2.9 mly
Bullet M32 - Galaxy - 2.9 mly
Bullet NGC 205 - Elliptical Galaxy (M110) - 2.9 mly
Bullet PGC 2666 - Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy (Andromeda I) - 2.9 mly
Bullet PGC 2121 - Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy (Andromeda III) - 2.9 mly
Bullet IC 1613 - Irregular galaxy, local group - 2.9 mly
Bullet M33 - Spiral Galaxy (Pinwheel Galaxy) - 3.0 mly
Bullet UGC 12613 - Dwarf Irregular Galaxy (Pegasus Dwarf) - 3.0 mly
Bullet PGC 3792 - Local Group Galaxy (Pisces Dwarf), 3.0 mly
Bullet PGC 143 - Dwarf Irregular Galaxyy (WLM, UGCA 444) - 3.7 mly
Bullet IC 10 - Irregular Galaxy, Local Group - 4.2 mly
Bullet UGCA 92 - Irregular Galaxy (PGC 15439) - 4.7 mly
 
Note: Several local group galaxies are not visible to from my site in NE Scotland (Lat 57d 19mN). These include LMC, SMC, Fornax Galaxy. Carina Dwarf, Sculptor Dwarf & Phoenix Dwarf.
 
NGC 3109 SubGroup
Bullet UGCA 205 - Sextans A, Local Group Galaxy - 4.0 mly
Bullet NGC 3109 - Spiral Galaxy, Local Group - 4.5 mly
Bullet PGC 28913 - Sextans B, Local Group Galaxy - 4.7 mly
 
Probable Nearby Non-Member Galaxies
Bullet PGC 14241 - Irregular Galaxy (UGCA 86) - 6.2 mly
Bullet NGC 404 - Elliptical Galaxy (Mirach's Ghost) - 8.0 mly
 
More Information
Bullet More Information

Segue 1 - Faint Dwarf Galaxy - 0.075 mly

Segue 1 (Leo)
Milky Way Dwarf Galaxy Satellite

Segue 1 is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy or globular cluster situated in the Leo constellation
and discovered in 2006 by Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
It is located at a distance of about 75,000 light years

Segue 1 is one of the smallest and faintest satellites of the Milky Way.
Its integrated luminosity is about 300 times that of the Sun which is
much smaller than the luminosity of a typical globular cluster.
Observations however indicate its mass is about 600,000 solar masses,
which suggest that it is dominated by dark matter.

In the image below the approximate area of Segue 1 dwarf galaxy
 is indicated by large white circle. By comparison with reference image
(Keck/Deimos image) the visible stars that are understood to
lie in Segue 1 are indicated by green circles

Note: a longer exposure is required to detect more stars lying in the dwarf galaxy
Image 
Annotated CCD Image (70% size, square root scale)
5 x 180s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2020-02-20 23:58 UT (#753140-44)
12" LX200R (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME
Auto-guided using TS 80mm APO, ZWO ASI178MC & PHD2
 
Segue 1 - Keck/Deimos Reference Image
Image 
Credit: Marla Geha  
Image has been rotated and resized to match own image
 
Segue 1 - Unannotated Images
Image 
Annotated CCD Image (70% size, square root scale)
5 x 180s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2020-02-20 23:58 UT (#753140-44)
12" LX200R (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME
Auto-guided using TS 80mm APO, ZWO ASI178MC & PHD2
 
Image 
Negative CCD Image (70% size, square root scale)
Image details as above
 

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PGC 34176 - Elliptical Galaxy (Leo II / Leo B, Local Group) - 0.75 mly

PGC 34176  (Leo)
0.75 million light years distance

Image
CCD Image (50% size)
5  x 120s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2010-02-21 00:05 hUT (#414417-21)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
[larger image, 75%]

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PGC 29488 - Elliptical Galaxy (Leo I, Local Group) - 0.9 mly

PGC 29488 (Leo)
Only just visible due to very low surface brightness, 
Image
CCD Image
3 x 60 sec (average combine),  C Filter
2004-12-11 05:28 h UT (#79003-06)
8" LX200 + ST-7E

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NGC 6822 - Irregular Galaxy (Barnard's Galaxy) - 1.8 mly

Caldwell 57 / NGC 6822 (Sagittarius) 
Image
CCD Image 50% size reduction)
6 x 120 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2009-07-30 23:53 h UT  (#379451-58)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
[Larger View, 75%]

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NGC 185  - Elliptical Galaxy  - 2.3 mly

NGC 185  (Cassiopeia)
Image 
 CCD Image (50% size, linear scale
6 x 180s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, DB Filter
2020-01-20 18:49 UT (#744017-22)
12" LX200R (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME
Auto-guided using TS 80mm APO, ZWO ASI178MC & PHD2
 
NGC 185 - Detail
Image 
 CCD Image (100% size, square root scale, cropped)
Image details as above
 
Image 
 Negative CCD Image (100% size, square root scale, cropped)
Image details as above

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NGC 147 - Local Group Galaxy - 2.4 mly

NGC 147 (Cassiopeia)

Image
  CCD Image (50% size, cropped) 
5 x 120 sec (average combine),  3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-12-11 20:55 h UT  (#404290-94)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

 

NGC 147 - detail

Image
CCD Image (100% size, cropped)
Image details as above

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M31 - Spiral Galaxy (Andromeda Galaxy)  - 2.9 mly

M31 (Andromeda)

Image

CCD Image Mosaic (7x12 frames, 30% size)
3 min exposure, 2x2 binning, C Filter
2006-12-09 20:03 to 22:41h UT  (#161075-124)
2006-12-11 20:30 to 22:34h UT (#162048-81)
Linear brightness scaling,   (larger image, 50% size)
8" LX200 + ST-7E
  
More Images of M31

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M32 - Elliptical Galaxy - 2.9 mly

M32 Galaxy (Andromeda)
Image
CCD Image,
 2 x 5 min exposure (2x2 binning)
2002-10-03  00:44 to 00:54h UT (#28240-41)
11.4 x 7.6 arc min 
8" LX200 + ST-7E

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NGC 205 - Elliptical Galaxy (M110) - 2.9 mly

NGC 205 / M110 Galaxy (Andromeda)
Image
CCD Image
2 x 5 min exposure (2x2 binning)
2002-10-03  01:03 to 01:14h UT
11.4 x 7.6 arc min  (#28243-44)
8" LX200 + ST-7E

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PGC 2666 - Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy (Andromeda I) - 2.9 mly

  

PGC 2666 / Andromeda I  (Andromeda)
Andromeda I is part of the local group of galaxies and
a satellite galaxy of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
Position of Andromeda I is highlighted by white ellipse in image below.
The galaxy is very faint, but is better seen in a contrast enhanced image
Image 
Annotated CCD Image (70% size, square root scale)
5 x 180s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2020-02-12 18:42 UT (#751003-07)
12" LX200R (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME
Auto-guided using TS 80mm APO, ZWO ASI178MC & PHD2
 
PGC 2666 / Andromeda I - Detail
Galaxy is visible as a faint smudge in upper centre of this contrast enhanced image
Image 
Negative CCD Image (70% size, square root scale, contrast enhanced)
Image details as above
 

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PGC 2121 - Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy (Andromeda III) - 2.9 mly

  

PGC 2121 / Andromeda III (Andromeda)
Attempted image of Local Group Galaxy
expected location of galaxy is circled

Image

CCD Image ( cropped)
4 x 120s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, I Filter
2009-12-26 20:01h UT (#408248-52)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

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IC 1613 - Irregular Galaxy, local group - 2.9 mly

IC 1613 / Caldwell 51 (Cetus)

Image

CCD Image ( 50% size)
5 x 120 sec (average combine),  3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-12-11 21:36 h UT  (#404320-24)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

    

IC 1613 / Caldwell 51 - detail

Image

CCD Image (100% size, cropped)
Image details as above

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M33 - Spiral Galaxy (Pinwheel Galaxy) - 3.0 mly

M33  (Triangulum)

Image

CCD Image Mosaic (50% size)
3 min exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2006-11-16 22:24 h UT (#152233-45)
8" LX200 + ST-7E
 [ Larger Size, 75% ]
 
M33 - detail, showing named HII regions

Image

Annotated CCD Image Mosaic (75% size)
3 min exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
Rotated & Cropped
2006-11-16 22:24 h UT (#152233-45) 
8" LX200 + ST-7E
(Un-annotated Image, 75% size)

 

M33 - Variable 83 (S-Dor type variable)

Image

Annotated CCD Image 
5 x 3 min exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2006-11-16 23:24 h UT (#152276-80) 
8" LX200 + ST-7E
( Image details as above )
  
More Images of M33

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UGC 12613 - Dwarf Irregular Galaxy (Pegasus Dwarf) - 3 mly

UGC 12613 / (Pegasus) 

Image
CCD Image (cropped)
6 x 45 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2009-12-04 20:25 h UT  (#402248-57)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

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PGC 3792 - Local Group Galaxy (Pisces Dwarf), 3.0 mly

PGC 3792 / Pisces Dwarf (Pisces)
Expected location of PGC 3792 is shown by white circle
Trace of some objects are just visible within circle and these might be part of the LG galaxy

Total exposure : 35 mins
Image contrast pushed to limit in order to see PGC 3792 / Pisces Dwarf  (centre) but it exposes
uneven sky background & smears on front of CCD sensor (particularly in lower left)

Bright star in lower right is HIP 4947 (mag 9.08)
Image
CCD Image (70% size, square root scale)
7 x 300s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2022-01-07 21:38 UT (#950087-93)
12" LX200R (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME
Auto-guided using TS 80mm APO, ZWO ASI178MC & PHD2
 
Image contrast pushed to limit in order to see PGC 3792 / Pisces Dwarf (centre) but it exposes
uneven sky background & smears on front of CCD sensor (lower left)
Image 
Annotated negative CCD Image (70% size, square root scale)
Image details as above
(cross hairs adjustment -11,-3, radius 46)
 
PGC 3792 / Pisces Dwarf - Reference Image
LGS 3 ubv 
Credit :  Deidre A. Hunter, CC BY-SA 2.5
 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>
via Wikimedia Commons
 
 

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PGC 143 - Dwarf Irregular Galaxy (Wolf-Lundmark - Melotte, UGCA 444) - 3.7 mly

PGC 143 (Cetus) 
Alias : WLM, UGCA 444

Image
CCD Image (50% size)
7 x 90 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2012-11-02 21:30 h UT (#520187-93)
12" LX200RĀ  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

 

PGC 143 / UGCA 444 - alternate view

Image
Negative CCD Image (50% size)
Image details as above

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IC 10 - Irregular Galaxy, Local Group  - 4.2 mly

IC 10 (Cassiopeia)

Image
CCD Image (50% size, Linear Scale) 
5 x 90 sec (average combine),  3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-09-19 21:05 h UT  (#389076-80)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
 
IC 10 - detail 
Image
CCD Image 
(Cropped to Central Area, Square Root Scale) 
Image details as above

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UGCA 92 - Irregular Galaxy (PGC 15439), Local Group 4.7 mly

UGCA 92  (Camelopardalis)
Alias:  PGC 15439
Dec +63d 36m
Image
Annotated CCD Image (50% size, square root scale)
5 x 180s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2020-11-13 20:31 UT (#829084-88)
12" LX200R (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME
Auto-guided using TS 80mm APO, ZWO ASI178MC & PHD2
 
UGCA 92 -  Detail
Image
CCD Image (100% size, square root scale, cropped)
Image details as above
 
Image
Negative CCD Image (100% size, square root scale, cropped)
Image details as above
 

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NGC 3109 Sub Group

NGC 3109 is the dominating member of a small group of dwarf galaxies, all of them Local Group member candidates, which also contains Sextans A, Sextans B, the Antlia Dwarf and perhaps Leo A.

It is still not finally clear if these galaxies are gravitationally bound to the Local Group of Galaxies, thus forming a subgroup of the Local Group, or if this is the nearest independent small group of galaxies.


UGCA 205  - Sextans A,  Local Group Galaxy - 4.0 mly

UGCA 205 (Sextans)
Local Group Galaxy

Alias: Sextans A, PGC 29653
Image
CCD Image (50% size, square root scale)
4 x 180s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2020-11-26 04:12 UT (#833217-20)
12" LX200R (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME
Auto-guided using TS 80mm APO, ZWO ASI178MC & PHD2
 
UGCA 205 -  Detail
Image
CCD Image (100% size, square root scale, cropped)
Image details as above
 
Image
Negative CCD Image (100% size, square root scale, cropped)
Image details as above
 

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NGC 3109 - Spiral Galaxy, Local Group - 4.5 mly

NGC 3109 (Hydra)
Local Group Galaxy
Barely visible (altitude 6 deg)

Image 

CCD Image  (cropped)
5 x 120s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter,  
2010-03-09 23:05h UT (#416328-32)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

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PGC 28913 - Sextans B, Local Group Galaxy - 4.7 mly

PGC 28913 / Sextans B (Sextans)

Image
Annotated CCD Image (cropped)
4  x 120s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2010-02-20 23:17 hUT (#414367-70)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

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Probable Nearby Non-Member Galaxies

Nearby galaxies which are probably not gravitationally bound to the Local Group Galaxies

 


PGC 14241 - Irregular Galaxy (UGCA 86) - 6.2 mly

  

PGC 14241 / UGC-A 86 (Camelopardalis)

Image

CCD Image (cropped)
4 x 120s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-12-26 22:09h UT (#408281-84)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

  

Image

Negative CCD Image (cropped)
Image details as above

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NGC 404 - Elliptical Galaxy (Mirach's Ghost) - 8.0 mly

NGC 404 / Herschel II-224 (Andromeda) 
Spheroid Galaxy close to Mirach (mag +2)
It lies around 8 (? 10.3) million light years away, just outside the Local Group
Image
CCD Image (Linear Scale, cropped)
7 x 20 sec (average combine),  3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-09-20 03:00 h UT  (#389493-99)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
 
NGC 404 - detail
black strip is blooming spike from Mirach.
Image
Negative CCD Image (200% size, cropped)
Image details as above

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More Information

Future Local Group targets:

Links:

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