(CMa Dwarf, Canis Major Overdensity, CMa Overdensity)
(small irregular galaxy in the Local Group)
Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy is a small
irregular galaxy in the Local Group with about a billion
stars. Its percentage of red giants is high.
It is thought to be the closest galaxy to the
Milky Way, about 25,000 light-years from
Earth. It was discovered in 2003.
Some do not classify it as a galaxy
and it is also cited as the Canis Major Overdensity (CMa Overdensity).
It would be considered a galaxy if it formed separately from the Milky Way
and a reliable determination of its systemic velocity would provide
evidence regarding this. Characteristics: