Astrophysics (Index)About

galaxy group

(group of galaxies, GrG)
(group of fifty or fewer gravitationally-bound Milky-Way-sized galaxies)

A galaxy group (or group of galaxies or GrG) is a group of (on the order of) fifty or fewer "significant" galaxies (e.g., with the luminosity of the Milky Way or brighter) that are gravitationally bound, perhaps along with some smaller galaxies, e.g., dwarf galaxies. The Milky Way is within such a group termed the Local Group. A galaxy group can be part of a galaxy cluster. A compact group is a galaxy group within a small volume. A loose group is the other extreme.

The term subgroup (for galaxy subgroup) is definitely used within the Local Group, essentially meaning a significant galaxy plus its satellite galaxies, but likely is sometimes based upon mere proximity. An example is the Milky Way subgroup.


(galaxy clusters,galaxies)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_groups_and_clusters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_galaxy_groups_and_clusters#Groups
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_galaxies_of_the_Milky_Way
https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/G/Group+Environment
https://telescope.live/academy/what-galaxy-group

Referenced by pages:
astronomical quantities
AzTEC-3
Catalog of Southern Groups of Galaxies (MCL)
Centaurus A
field galaxy
fossil group
galaxy cluster (CL)
galaxy environment
galaxy subgroup
Hickson Compact Groups (HCG)
Local Group (LG)
NGC 1052
projected separation
rare designator prefixes
Stephan's Quintet
UZC-SSRS2 Group Catalog (USGC)

Index