this galaxy belongs to the local group of three large galaxies and over 50 smaller galaxies. the milky way is one of the largest galaxies in the group, second to the andromeda galaxy. its closest neighbour is the canis major dwarf galaxy, which is about 25,000 light years away from the earth. the andromeda galaxy is moving towards the milky way galaxy, and will collide with it in about 3.75 billion years. the andromeda galaxy moves with a speed of about 1,800 kilometres per minute.