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Galaxy group

Local Group

The Local Group is a galaxy group including the Milky Way, Andromeda, and more than 50 other galaxies, on Laniakea’s outer edges.

Verified 2026-10-02
M33, one of the galaxies in the Local Group.
Type: Image · processed scientific image Provider: NASA Author: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona Credit: Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona Licence: NASA Image Use Policy Colour treatment: false color

Overview

The Local Group is a galaxy group containing the Milky Way and its closest neighbors, including the Andromeda galaxy. NASA states that these galaxies live alongside more than 50 other galaxies within the Local Group. In the supplied hierarchy, the Local Group is on the outer edges of the Laniakea Supercluster, within the Observable Universe.

Galaxy groups generally contain 100 or fewer galaxies. Along with galaxy clusters, they are collections of galaxies bound by gravity and serve as building blocks of larger cosmic structures. At a higher scale, superclusters collect groups, clusters, and individual galaxies, although they are typically not gravitationally bound to one another. The Local Group is therefore part of the cosmic web, the threadlike arrangement of galaxies and larger structures separated by voids.

Essential data

Key fact
The Local Group contains the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy.
Key fact
It includes more than 50 other galaxies alongside the Milky Way and its closest neighbors.
Key fact
Galaxy groups generally hold 100 or fewer galaxies.
Key fact
The Local Group lies on the outer edges of the Laniakea Supercluster.

Sources and references

  1. Large Scale Structures — NASA Science NASA Science