<p>At last 80 nearby galaxies are believed to be part of a small cluster called the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Group" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Local Group</a>.</p>
<p>The three largest members of the Local Group, have their own system of satellite galaxies.</p>
<p>Over 50 galaxies are satellite galaxies of the Milky Way Galaxy and are closer to it than the Andromeda Galaxy is.</p>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nearest_galaxies" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nearest_galaxies</a></p>
<p>The Andromeda Galaxy is actually number 86 in that list of nearest galaxies.</p>
<p>The Small Magellanic Cloud is number 23 and the large Magellanic Cloud is number 19.</p>
<p>The nearest galaxy on the list is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canis_Major_Overdensity" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy</a>, altough its status as a galaxy is soemewhat disputed.</p>
<p>If the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy is not actually a galaxy, the next galaxy on the list would become the nearest galaxy. That is Draco II.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-18T21:54:43.350Z
2020-11-19T22:48:16.467Z
2020-11-19T22:48:16.467Z
M. A. Golding
<p>I think that the galaxy closest to the Earth, that is, to the Milky Way, is the nebula called Andromeda, which is 2.5 million light years away. Despite this great distance, M31 is visible, and very pretty. Are there any galaxies closer to the Milky Way than the Andromeda galaxy?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-16T17:36:01.660Z
I’m voting to close this question because you haven't asked a question.  You've just stated a fact. (and it is not correct as written as there are at least two closer galaxies, the LMC and the SMC )
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-16T17:36:10.363Z
Can you edit this so that the question is asked in the question body; you seem to be supplying an answer to the question in the body. If you include the dwarf spheroidal galaxies and satellites of the Milky Way, then M31 Andromeda Galaxy is only the 86th closest in [this list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nearest_galaxies)
astrosnapper
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-17T09:21:25.693Z
I've made a quick edit to turn this into a question and voted to reopen. Let's see what everyone else thinks...
Aaron F
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-17T10:54:43.973Z
It is the Magellan cloud, not the Andromeda. It is a dwarf galaxy, not so far away. They have the best beer in our local group.
peterh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-17T19:00:13.300Z
The edits made by @AaronF help to clarify the question. The comment by astrosnapper is a good start to an answer.
Jim421616
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-18T05:35:11.237Z
`+1` I'm happy this interesting is now open and I think the edits would have been done just as quickly without any of the close and reopen drama. This is a low question rate site, there's hardy any danger of being overwhelmed with bad answers quickly, and therefore no actual constructive contribution from the answer-blocking question-closing.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-18T05:35:54.693Z
Different but related: [How many satellites does the Milky Way have?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/34264/7982)
uhoh
<galaxy><milky-way><local-group>
What is the closest galaxy?
user36923
# What is the closest galaxy?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-11-16)

I think that the galaxy closest to the Earth, that is, to the Milky Way, is the nebula called Andromeda, which is 2.5 million light years away. Despite this great distance, M31 is visible, and very pretty. Are there any galaxies closer to the Milky Way than the Andromeda galaxy?

**Tags:** galaxy, milky-way, local-group
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I’m voting to close this question because you haven't asked a question.  You've just stated a fact. (and it is not correct as written as there are at least two closer galaxies, the LMC and the SMC )  
> **username_2**: Can you edit this so that the question is asked in the question body; you seem to be supplying an answer to the question in the body. If you include the dwarf spheroidal galaxies and satellites of the Milky Way, then M31 Andromeda Galaxy is only the 86th closest in [this list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nearest_galaxies)  
> **username_3**: I've made a quick edit to turn this into a question and voted to reopen. Let's see what everyone else thinks...  
> **username_4**: It is the Magellan cloud, not the Andromeda. It is a dwarf galaxy, not so far away. They have the best beer in our local group.  
> **username_5**: The edits made by @AaronF help to clarify the question. The comment by astrosnapper is a good start to an answer.  
> **username_6**: `+1` I'm happy this interesting is now open and I think the edits would have been done just as quickly without any of the close and reopen drama. This is a low question rate site, there's hardy any danger of being overwhelmed with bad answers quickly, and therefore no actual constructive contribution from the answer-blocking question-closing.  
> **username_6**: Different but related: [How many satellites does the Milky Way have?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/34264/7982)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2020-11-18. Score: 5

At last 80 nearby galaxies are believed to be part of a small cluster called the [Local Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Group).

The three largest members of the Local Group, have their own system of satellite galaxies.

Over 50 galaxies are satellite galaxies of the Milky Way Galaxy and are closer to it than the Andromeda Galaxy is.

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nearest_galaxies>

The Andromeda Galaxy is actually number 86 in that list of nearest galaxies.

The Small Magellanic Cloud is number 23 and the large Magellanic Cloud is number 19.

The nearest galaxy on the list is the [Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canis_Major_Overdensity), altough its status as a galaxy is soemewhat disputed.

If the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy is not actually a galaxy, the next galaxy on the list would become the nearest galaxy. That is Draco II.


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