Back Canis Major-dwergsterrestelsel AF مجرة الكلب الأكبر القزمة Arabic Nana del Ca Major Catalan Trpasličí galaxie Velký pes Czech Canis-Major-Zwerggalaxie German Canis Major Overdensity English Enana del Can Mayor Spanish Ison koiran kääpiögalaksi Finnish Galaxie naine du Grand Chien French Canis Major-törpegalaxis Hungarian
| Canis Major Dwarf | |
|---|---|
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Canis Major |
| Right ascension | 07h 12m 35.0s[1] |
| Declination | −27° 40′ 00″[1] |
| Distance | 25,000 ly |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | Irr |
| Apparent size (V) | 12 degrees × 12 degrees |
| Notable features | - |
| Other designations | |
| CMa Dwarf,[1] PGC 5065047 | |
The Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy (CMa dwarf) or Canis Major Overdensity (CMa overdensity) is a disputed dwarf irregular galaxy in the Local Group. It is in the same part of the sky as the constellation Canis Major.
The supposed small galaxy has a relatively high percentage of red giant stars. It is thought to have about one billion stars in all.
The Canis Major Dwarf is an irregular galaxy. It may be the closest neighbouring galaxy to us in the Milky Way. It is about 25,000 light-years away from the Solar System,[2] and 52,000 light-years from the Galactic centre. It has a roughly elliptical shape and is thought to contain as many stars as the Sag DEG, the previous contender for closest galaxy to us.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "NASA/IPAC extragalactic database". Results for Canis Major dwarf. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
- ↑ "Astronomers find nearest galaxy to the Milky Way". Archived from the original on May 27, 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-24.