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	Frequently Asked Questions Send to a friend  Printable version  En Español Keywords Milky Way Galaxy  Astronomical Distances  Dwarf Galaxies  Large and Small Magellanic Clouds  Galaxies  Resources FAQs about Galaxies and Cosmology Astronomy Gift Shop 2009 Sky Almanac McDonald Observatory logo cap What is the nearest galaxy?  The nearest galaxy to our own is a recently discovered dwarf galaxy with the somewhat inglorious moniker "Sagittarius dwarf." It lies on the opposite side of the Milky Way from Earth, approximately 100,000 light-years distant. At such a proximity to our own, much larger galaxy, the Sagittarius dwarf is being ripped apart by tidal forces, and in the distant future it will no longer be recognized as a galaxy at all. When this happens, the title of "nearest galactic neighbor" will once again fall on the Large Magellanic Cloud, an irregular galaxy located a mere 160,000 light-years away. Other FAQs Select FAQ category Earth, Moon, and the Sun The Solar System Space Probes and Human Exploration Stars and Nebulae Astronomers and Observatories Galaxies and Cosmology Stargazing and Star Lore » FAQs about StarDate Online Galaxies and Cosmology Links SEDS Local Group Page Galaxy Cluster Mug Shots Spacetime Wrinkles
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