Astrophysics (Index)About

Council of Giants

(twelve large galaxies surrounding the Local Group)

The Council of Giants is an informal name for a ring of twelve substantial galaxies (i.e., on the order of the Milky Way or larger) surrounding the Local Group, within the Local Sheet. The ring has a diameter on the order of 4 megaparsecs. Their proximity was pointed out and the nickname coined in 2014. The shape and position of the ring suggests some relation between them and the formation and maintenance of the Local Group. Galaxies:


(local,galaxies)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Sheet
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014MNRAS.440..405M/abstract
http://www.science20.com/news_articles/where_the_milky_way_stands_in_the_council_of_giants-133533

Referenced by pages:
Centaurus A
Circinus Galaxy (ESO 97-G13)
IC 342
Local Sheet
M64
M82
NGC 253

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