Local group

Galaxies usually group together in dense (clusters) or less dense (groups) populations of galaxies, where they are bound together by gravitational forces. The Milky Way belongs to a group called the Local Group. It has a more or less elliptical shape and extends over almost 7 million light-years.

The Local Group's members include the Milky Way, the Large and Small Magellanic clouds, the dwarf galaxy in Ursa Minor, the Sculptor dwarf galaxy, the Dragon dwarf galaxy, the Canis Major dwarf galaxy etc.