Galaxies are perhaps one of the most attractive deep-sky objects to observe and photograph. They represent massive
collections of dust, gas and countless billions of stars and are best described as islands of space matter across the
universe. They are characterized as being either spiral or elliptical in nature and usually have a bright central core.
Equally stunning to observe (with large-aperture telescopes) and image are galaxy clusters which represent collections
of gravitationally-bound groups of galaxies whose members number from tens to thousands and which are classified on the
basis of their richness (ie. number of galaxy members), shape (spherical, flat or irregular) and content (spiral or
elliptical). Charles Messier's list of deep-sky celestial gems includes approximately forty bright and large galaxies.
Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, represents a galaxy within the Local
Group (of Galaxies) numbering 30 galaxies in total, five million light years in diameter and which is moving in unison
towards the constellation of Virgo. Other prominent galaxies within the Local Group include Andromeda (150,000
light-years in diameter), Triangulum (40,000 light-years in diameter) and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (30,000
and 20,000 light-years in diameter respectively). The center of the Local Group is believed to lie between the Milky Way
and the Andromeda Galaxy. The richest member of our Local Group is the Virgo Cluster which is believed to contain
approximately 2500 galaxies mostly elliptical in nature.
Note: Further details in relation to galaxy groups including those below are available
here and
here. For an excellent article on the Local
Group, see Astronomy Magazine (Nov/2010: 46-49).
Please click on any image of interest for further image and imaging details.