---
title: "Which galaxy is closest to our galaxy?"  
description: "Which galaxy is closest to our galaxy?"  
author: "Ronan Jone"  
published: 2018-03-01  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/35767/which-galaxy-is-closest-to-our-galaxy  
category: "science"  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Which galaxy is closest to our galaxy?

## Answers

### Answer by Sanjay Goenka

The **[Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy](https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/features/cosmic/nearest_galaxy_info.html#:~:text=Distance%20Information,light%20years)%20from%20the%20Sun.)** is the **closest galaxy to us discovered in 2002.\** \
![Which galaxy is closest to our galaxy?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/0015b5f2-363a-4bae-9468-ba8c9fdd8b55/images/4fbd3c23-8666-46ab-8d5e-0173d65ef434.jpeg)\
\
**Overview** This Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy is **only 25,000 light-years from the sun** and it is **42,000 light-years away from the** . **[Galactic center](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/images/galactic-center.html).** The reason why it was not discovered earlier is that it was [hidden](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/2303/skip-validating-field-from-hidden-div) by the dust material in space and it is in the plane of the Milky Way. \
The galaxy is also pulled up by the **gravity of the Milky Way’s galaxy.** This galaxy is making the orbitals of the Milky Way galaxy and leaving a long filament of stars during the circulation including some dust, and gas in its wake. \
The **leaving of filament [nature](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/327860/family-road-trip-7-spots-to-enjoy-nature-in-america) of the galaxy makes a special type of ring** and **called the Monoceros Ring** and the age of this ring is **200,000 light-years**. This thread-like filament wraps the galaxy three times. The [discovery](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2200/newly-identified-protein-by-researchers-at-the-university-of-arizona-might-save-lives) of this galaxy is done while searching for the cause behind the Ring. And the **[investigation](https://www.mindstick.com/news/4142/ftc-launches-antitrust-investigation-into-microsoft) is completed with the discovery of the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy in 2002.** And the material which is coming out from the galaxy sometimes creates the illusion with the galaxy of the Milky Way. \
**Characteristics of the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy**

- The Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy is believed to contain one billion stars and a high percentage of the stars are in the **Red Giant Branch phase of their lifetime.**
- The filaments of the stars and the stream is discovered in the 21st century by astronomers conducting the **Sloan [Digital](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/85590/how-to-create-a-productive-digital-workspace) Sky Survey (SDSS).**
- This survey which was formerly known as the **collaborative astronomical [mission](https://www.mindstick.com/news/4150/isro-s-shukrayaan-greenlit-venus-mission-to-study-weather-and-atmosphere)**, and it was taking place between **1997 and 2001.** **[Mt. Hopkins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hopkins_(Arizona))** was the observatory person in Arizona.

## Read More:[Can we compare the structure of the universe with the structure of an atom?](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/39515/can-we-compare-the-structure-of-the-universe-with-the-structure-of-an-atom)


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