This is a list of largest galaxies known, sorted by order of increasing major axis diameters. The unit of measurement used is the light-year (approximately 9.46×1012 kilometers).
A Hubble Space Telescope image of the supergiant elliptical galaxy ESO 306-17. Supergiant elliptical galaxies are some of the largest galaxies known.
The Condor Galaxy is a colossal spiral galaxy disturbed by the smaller IC 4970. It is the largest known spiral galaxy with the isophotal diameter of over 717,000 light-years (220 kiloparsecs).[1]
Overview
editGalaxies are vast collections of stars, planets, nebulae and other objects that are surrounded by an interstellar medium and held together by gravity. They do not have a definite boundary by nature, and are characterized with gradually decreasing stellar density as a function of increasing distance from its center. Because of this, measuring the sizes of galaxies can often be difficult and have a wide range of results depending on the sensitivity of the detection equipment and the methodology being used. Some galaxies emit more strongly in wavelengths outside the visible spectrum, depending on its stellar population, whose stars may emit more strongly in other wavelengths that are beyond the detection range. It is also important to consider the morphology of the galaxy when attempting to measure its size - an issue that has been raised by the Russian astrophysicist B.A. Vorontsov-Vel'Yaminov in 1961, which considers separate determination methods in measuring the sizes of spiral and elliptical galaxies.[2]
For a full context about how the diameters of galaxies are measured, including the estimation methods stated in this list, see section Galaxy#Physical diameters.
List
editListed below are galaxies with diameters greater than 700,000 light-years. This list uses the mean cosmological parameters of the Lambda-CDM model based on results from the 2015 Planck collaboration, where H0 = 67.74 km/s/Mpc, ΩΛ = 0.6911, and Ωm = 0.3089.[3] Due to different techniques, each figure listed on the galaxies has varying degrees of confidence in them. The reference to those sizes plus further additional details can be accessed by clicking the link for the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) on the right-hand side of the table.
| Galaxy name/designation | Major axis diameter (in light-years) | Minor axis diameter (in light years) | Morphology | Estimation method |
Link for object |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESO 383-76 (ESO 383-G 076)[a] | 1,764,000 | 882,100 | cD5; E5; BrClG | 90% total B-light | NED |
| ESO 248-6 (ESO 248-G 006)[a] | 1,731,000 | 830,700 | S0?; BrClG | 90% total B-light | NED |
| ESO 409-25 (ESO 409-G 025)[a] | 1,454,000 | 901,700 | cD4; E4; BrClG | 90% total B-light | NED |
| Abell 3039 BCG B | 1,290,000 | 438,600 | cD | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 347-9 (ESO 347-G 009) | 1,212,000 | 436,300 | S...; cD | 90% total B-light | NED |
| 2MASX J14102504+6337103 | 1,134,000 | 1,134,000 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 151-41 (ESO 151-G 041) | 1,132,000 | 453,000 | Sc | 90% total B-light | NED |
| MCG-04-02-013[a] | 1,115,000 | 1,115,000 | E | 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| Abell 1576 BCG | 1,077,000 | 517,200 | cD db | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 306-17 (ESO 306-G 017) | 1,070,000 | 706,100 | cD3; E3 | 90% total B-light | NED |
| ESO 350-15 (ESO 350-G 015) | 1,043,000 | 521,600 | cD3; E3 | 90% total B-light | NED |
| OGC 94 | 1,036,000 | 403,900 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 2397 BCG | 1,014,000 | 588,300 | cD | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 1146 BCG | 1,009,000 | 767,100 | E | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 747 BCG | 995,300 | 437,900 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LEDA 1273002 | 975,400 | 419,400 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LEDA 1838034 | 958,600 | 517,700 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 473-5 (ESO 473-G 005) | 944,600 | 517,700 | Sc; BrClG | 90% total B-light | NED |
| Abell 1942 BCG | 939,200 | 638,700 | BrClG; AGN | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| 2MASX J12114313+0801071 | 933,900 | 467,000 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| MCG +09-25-047 | 932,900 | 205,300 | ~[b] | Intermediate surface brightness | NED |
| LEDA 1654342 | 916,400 | 623,100 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 156-18 (ESO 156-G 018) | 916,000 | 421,400 | SAB(s)00: pec | 90% total B-light | NED |
| OGC 169 | 915,700 | 659,300 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 384 BCG | 913,900 | 274,200 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 206-2 (ESO 206-G 002) | 913,600 | 420,300 | cD; S | 90% total B-light | NED |
| ESO 286-41 (ESO 286-G 041) | 897,000 | 502,300 | SA(s)0+; cD | 90% total B-light | NED |
| Abell 697 BCG[a] | 885,200 | 637,400 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 511 | 883,100 | 618,400 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 3300 BCG | 878,800 | 386,700 | cD | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 666 | 876,300 | 455,700 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 1437B BCG | 868,300 | 538,400 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 116 | 868,100 | 538,200 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 443-11 (ESO 443-G 011) | 866,500 | 407,300 | cD; SAB00 pec; BrClG | 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| 4C +41.26 | 862,300 | 724,400 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 963 BCG | 841,200 | 605,700 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 541-13 (ESO 541-G 013) | 840,700 | 655,700 | cD; E3 pec | 90% total B-light | NED |
| OGC 560 | 830,900 | 598,200 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| MACS J0024.5+3312 BCG | 830,600 | 548,200 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 369 | 827,300 | 413,700 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 1602 BCG | 822,000 | 575,400 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| B3 1448+445 | 813,900 | 634,800 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| NGC 623 | 803,900 | 611,000 | cD; E | 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| PGC 6616 | 803,800 | 401,900 | E | 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| Abell 1413 BCG[a] | 801,400 | 256,400 | cD; E; BrClG | 25.0 r-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| LEDA 1143180 | 800,300 | 512,200 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 773N BCG | 798,000 | 590,500 | BrClG; cD | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 291-9 (ESO 291-G 009) | 795,100 | 461,200 | cD4; SA0−;BrClG | 90% total B-light | NED |
| Abell 1504 BCG | 790,200 | 458,300 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LCSB S1161P | 788,800 | 284,000 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 31 | 785,800 | 345,800 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 763 | 784,500 | 564,800 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LEDA 1816387 | 782,500 | 336,500 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LEDA 1118210 | 782,400 | 594,600 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| NVSS J080730+340042 | 780,900 | 359,200 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LEDA 2066332[a] | 779,700 | 467,800 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 1311 | 776,900 | 419,500 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 812 BCG[a] | 772,900 | 541,000 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 856 | 772,200 | 509,700 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| 7C 1043+5953 | 771,000 | 400,900 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 1785B BCG | 769,800 | 508,100 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LEDA 2463193 | 769,500 | 769,500 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 781 b | 766,500 | 337,300 | BrClG | 25.0 r-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| B2 1132+32 | 763,600 | 381,800 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 231[a] | 762,000 | 487,700 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 26 | 760,700 | 699,900 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 655 BCG | 760,000 | 577,600 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 499 | 757,800 | 515,300 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LEDA 1969788 | 756,500 | 378,200 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LEDA 1460988 | 755,500 | 438,200 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| NGC 4038[c][a] | 752,000 | 541,400 | SB(s)m pec | 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| 2MASX J01331683+2311233 | 751,700 | 278,100 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 908 BCG | 750,200 | 555,100 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| 2MASX J00193870+0335573 | 748,100 | 433,900 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 2061 b[a] | 747,700 | 583,200 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 2397 G1 | 745,700 | 432,500 | cD | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 188 | 742,900 | 534,900 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 198-1 (ESO 198-G 001) | 741,600 | 563,600 | cD4; E4 | 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| 3C 295 | 738,000 | 738,000 | E/S0;LEG;BrClG NLRG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 199 | 737,500 | 457,200 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 267 BCG | 736,700 | 302,000 | BrClG | 25.0 r-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| Abell 1758N BCG | 731,500 | 321,900 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 360 BCG | 727,700 | 363,900 | cD | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 251-21 (ESO 251-G 021) | 727,700 | 458,400 | SAB0- pec; E/S0 | 90% total B-light | NED |
| OGC 667 | 722,900 | 375,900 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LEDA 2188433 | 721,600 | 721,600 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 235 | 720,200 | 576,200 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 1807 BCG | 720,200 | 475,300 | cD | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 898 | 719,900 | 417,500 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| NGC 6872 | 717,000 | 143,400 | SAB(rs)c | 25.5 r-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| Abell S1077 BCG | 716,900 | 372,800 | ~[b] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 2125 BCG | 715,200 | 515,200 | E[d] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| B3 1715+425 | 715,200 | 472,000 | BrClG; AGN[e] | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 2219 BCG | 713,400 | 385,300 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| OGC 966 | 710,000 | 284,000 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 552-20 (ESO 552-G 020)[a] | 710,000 | 411,800 | cD; E | 90% total B-light | NED |
| OGC 512 | 709,700 | 340,700 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| ESO 11-4 (ESO 011-G 004) | 707,400 | 488,100 | cD4; E4 pec | 90% total B-light | NED |
| IC 1633[a] | 705,700 | 543,400 | cD; E1 | 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| ESO 443-4 (ESO 443-G 004) | 705,200 | 423,100 | cD; S0; BrClG | 90% total B-light | NED |
| LEDA 2262657 | 704,000 | 521,000 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| LEDA 1869052[a] | 703,100 | 464,000 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| NGC 1759 | 702,800 | 632,500 | cD; E | 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| LEDA 1869814 | 702,100 | 463,300 | BrClG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell S235 BCG | 700,900 | 252,300 | cD | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
Listed below are some notable galaxies under 700,000 light-years in diameter, for the purpose of comparison. All links to NED are available, except for the Milky Way, which is linked to the relevant paper detailing its size.
| Galaxy name/designation | Major axis diameter (in light-years) | Minor axis diameter (in light years) | Morphology | Estimation method |
Link for object |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESO 444-46 (ESO 444-G 046)[a] | 670,700 | 382,300 | cD4; E4; BrClG | 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| Tadpole Galaxy | 558,400 | 111,700 | SB(s)c pec | 25.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| IC 1101[a] | 553,200 | 449,700 | cD; S0- | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Abell 2261 BCG[a] | 544,600 | 533,800 | cD; E | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Hercules A | 459,800 | 285,100 | E; WLRG; NLRG | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| UGC 2885 ("Rubin's Galaxy")[a] | 438,100 | 201,500 | SA(rs)c | 25.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| NGC 1399[a] | 412,300 | 379,300 | cD; E1 pec | 90% total B-light | NED |
| NeVe 1 | 332,100 | 239,100 | cD; E | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Alcyoneus | 242,900[f] | 155,400 | E | 25.0 r-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| Andromeda Galaxy | 152,300 | 152,300 | SA(s)b | 25.0 mag/arcsec2 | NED |
| Centaurus A | 123,100 | 94,750 | S0pec; Sy2; BL Lac | 90% total B-light | NED |
| Messier 87[a] | 118,800[g] | 93,870 | cD; E0-E1 pec; NLRG; Sy | 25.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
| Malin 1 | 118,700[h] | 118,700 | S; LSB | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| NGC 262[a] | 101,100 | 78,860 | SA(s)0/a; Sy2 | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Messier 81 ("Bode's Galaxy") | 96,000 | ~[i] | SA(s)ab; LINER | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Milky Way | 87,400 ± 3,600 | 87,400 ± 3,600 | Sb; Sbc; SB(rs)bc | 25.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | [4][5] |
| Messier 82 ("Cigar Galaxy") | 47,300 | 21,800 | I0; Sburst | 2MASS K-band total mag | NED |
| Large Magellanic Cloud | 32,500 | ~[j] | SB(s)m | 25.0 B-mag arcsec−2 | NED |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u The physical diameters given by NED for this object are based on the mean of one or more redshift-independent distance techniques, which are subject to errors and sensitivity to extreme values. The diameters given for this object in this list was based on NED's provided scale "Virgo + GA + Shapley" multiplied with the values for the angular diameter of the cited estimation method.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Morphology unlisted; images show an elliptical galaxy.
- ^ The larger galaxy in the Antennae Galaxies pair.
- ^ Starburst galaxy
- ^ A blazar.
- ^ Major axis refers to the visible stellar axis of the host galaxy. Radio lobes are 15 million light-years across, though not considered a part of the main galaxy.
- ^ This is the diameter as measured through the 25.0 mag/arcsec−2 isophote at the B-band. The diffuse stellar halo of this galaxy extends up to 300 kiloparsecs (980,000 light-years) across.
- ^ This is the diameter measured through the quoted estimation method. This galaxy has an immense, diffuse low-surface brightness spiral extending up to 200 kiloparsecs (650,000 light-years) across.
- ^ No stated minor axis
- ^ No stated minor axis
References
edit- ^ "Your NED Search Results". ned.ipac.caltech.edu.
- ^ Vorontsov-Vel'Yaminov, B. A. (1961). "The Comparison of Galaxy Diameters". Soviet Astronomy. 4: 735. Bibcode:1961SvA.....4..735V.
- ^ Ade, P. A. R.; et al. (2016). "Planck2015 results". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 594: A13. arXiv:1502.01589. Bibcode:2016A&A...594A..13P. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201525830. S2CID 119262962.
- ^ Goodwin, S. P.; Gribbin, J.; Hendry, M. A. (22 April 1997). "The Milky Way is just an average spiral". arXiv:astro-ph/9704216.
- ^ Goodwin, S. P.; Gribbin, J.; Hendry, M. A. (August 1998). "The relative size of the Milky Way". The Observatory. 118: 201–208. Bibcode:1998Obs...118..201G.