List of galaxies


The following is a list of notable galaxies.
There are about 51 galaxies in the Local Group, on the order of 100,000 in our Local Supercluster, and an estimated one to two trillion in all of the observable universe.
The discovery of the nature of galaxies as distinct from other nebulae was made in the 1920s. The first attempts at systematic catalogues of galaxies were made in the 1960s, with the Catalogue of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies listing 29,418 galaxies and galaxy clusters, and with the Morphological Catalogue of Galaxies, a putatively complete list of galaxies with photographic magnitude above 15, listing 30,642. In the 1980s, the Lyons Groups of Galaxies listed 485 galaxy groups with 3,933 member galaxies. Galaxy Zoo is a project aiming at a more comprehensive list: launched in July 2007, it has classified over one million galaxy images from The Sloan Digital Sky Survey, The Hubble Space Telescope and the Cosmic Assembly Near-Infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey.
There is no universal naming convention for galaxies, as they are mostly catalogued before it is established whether the object is or isn't a galaxy. Mostly they are identified by their celestial coordinates together with the name of the observing project

Named galaxies

This is a list of galaxies that are well known by something other than an entry in a catalog or list, or a set of coordinates, or a systematic designation.
ImageGalaxyConstellationOrigin of nameNotes
Andromeda GalaxyAndromedaAndromeda, which is shortened from "Andromeda Galaxy", gets its name from the area of the sky in which it appears, the constellation of Andromeda.Andromeda is the closest big galaxy to the Milky Way and is expected to collide with the Milky Way around 4 billion years from now. The two will eventually merge into a single new galaxy called Milkomeda.
Antennae GalaxiesCorvusLooks are similar to an insect's antennae.
Backward GalaxyCentaurusIt appears to rotate backwards, as the tips of the spiral arms point in the direction of rotation.
Black Eye GalaxyComa BerenicesIt has a spectacular dark band of absorbing dust in front of the galaxy's bright nucleus, giving rise to its nicknames of the "Black Eye" or "Evil Eye" galaxy.
Bode's GalaxyUrsa MajorNamed for Johann Elert Bode who discovered this galaxy in 1774.
Butterfly GalaxiesVirgoLooks are similar to a butterfly.
Cartwheel GalaxySculptorIts visual appearance is similar to that of a spoked cartwheel.
Cigar GalaxyUrsa MajorAppears similar in shape to a cigar.
Circinus GalaxyCircinusNamed after the constellation it is located in.
Coma Pinwheel GalaxyComa BenericesNamed after its resemblance to the Pinwheel Galaxy and its location in the Coma Benerices constellation.
Comet GalaxySculptorThis galaxy is named after its unusual appearance, looking like a comet.The comet effect is caused by tidal stripping by its galaxy cluster, Abell 2667.
SextansThe name of this galaxy is based on a Redshift measurement of nearly 7.Galaxy Cosmos Redshift 7 is reported to be the brightest of distant galaxies and to contain some of the earliest first stars that produced the chemical elements needed for the later formation of planets and life as we know it.
Eye of SauronCanes VenaticiDue to its resemblance to the Eye of sauron from the Lord of the Rings
Fireworks GalaxyCygnus and CepheusDue to its bright and spotty appearance.
Hockey Stick GalaxiesCanes VenaticiIts elongated and curved appearance resembles a hockey stick.
Hoag's ObjectSerpens CaputThis is named after Art Hoag, who discovered this ring galaxy.It is of the subtype Hoag-type galaxy, and may in fact be a polar-ring galaxy with the ring in the plane of rotation of the central object.
Large Magellanic CloudDorado/MensaNamed after Ferdinand MagellanThis is the fourth largest galaxy in the Local Group, and forms a pair with the SMC, and from recent research, may not be part of the Milky Way system of satellites at all.
Lindsay-Shapley RingVolansNamed after its discoverer, Eric Lindsay, his professor Harlow Shapley, and its nature as a ring galaxy.
Little Sombrero GalaxyPegasusNamed after its similarity to the Sombrero Galaxy.
Medusa MergerUrsa MajorEjected dust from the merging galaxies is said to look like the snakes that the Gorgon Medusa from Greek mythology had on her head.
Sculptor Dwarf GalaxySculptorSimilar to the Sculpture Galaxies
Mice GalaxiesComa BerenicesLooks are similar to a mouse.
Small Magellanic CloudTucanaNamed after Ferdinand MagellanThis forms a pair with the LMC, and from recent research, may not be part of the Milky Way system of satellites at all.
Mayall's ObjectUrsa MajorThis is named after Nicholas Mayall, of the Lick Observatory, who discovered it.Also called VV 32 and Arp 148, this is a very peculiar looking object, and is likely to be not one galaxy, but two galaxies undergoing a collision. Event in images is a spindle shape and a ring shape.
Milky WaySagittarius The appearance from Earth of the galaxy – a band of light.The galaxy containing the Sun and its Solar System, and therefore Earth.
Needle GalaxyComa BerenicesNamed due to its slender appearance.
Wolf-Lundmark-MelotteCetusNamed for the three astronomers instrumental in its discovery and identification.
Pinwheel GalaxyUrsa MajorSimilar in appearance to a pinwheel.
Sculptor GalaxySculptorNamed after its location in the Sculptor Constellation. Also called the Silver Dollar or Silver Coin Galaxy, because of its light and circular appearance.
Sombrero GalaxyVirgoSimilar in appearance to a sombrero.
Southern Pinwheel GalaxyHydraNamed after its resemblance to the Pinwheel Galaxy and its location in the southern celestial hemisphere.
Sunflower GalaxyCanes VenaticiSimilar in appearance to a sunflower.
Tadpole GalaxyDracoThe name comes from the resemblance of the galaxy to a tadpole.This shape resulted from tidal interaction that drew out a long tidal tail.
Triangulum GalaxyTriangulumNamed after its location within the Triangulum constellation.
Whirlpool GalaxyCanes VenaticiFrom the whirlpool appearance this gravitationally disturbed galaxy exhibits.
Malin 1Coma BerenicesDiscovered and named by David Malin.

Naked-eye galaxies

This is a list of galaxies that are visible to the naked eye, for at the very least, keen-eyed observers in a very dark-sky environment that is high in altitude, during clear and stable weather.
GalaxyApparent
Magnitude
DistanceConstellationNotes
Milky Way−6.50Sagittarius This is the galaxy containing the Sun and its Solar System, and therefore Earth. Most things visible to the naked-eye in the sky are part of it, including the Milky Way composing the Zone of Avoidance.
Large Magellanic Cloud0.9160 kly Dorado/MensaVisible only from the southern hemisphere. It is also the brightest patch of nebulosity in the sky.
Small Magellanic Cloud 2.7200 kly TucanaVisible only from the southern hemisphere.
Andromeda Galaxy 3.42.5 Mly AndromedaOnce called the Great Andromeda Nebula, it is situated in the Andromeda constellation.
Triangulum Galaxy 5.72.9 Mly TriangulumBeing a diffuse object, its visibility is strongly affected by even small amounts of light pollution, ranging from easily visible in direct vision in truly dark skies to a difficult averted vision object in rural/suburban skies.
Centaurus A 6.8413.7 Mly CentaurusCentaurus A has been spotted with the naked eye by Stephen James O'Meara.
Bode's Galaxy 6.9412 Mly Ursa MajorHighly experienced amateur astronomers may be able to see Messier 81 under exceptional observing conditions.
Sculptor Galaxy 7.212 Mly SculptorNGC 253 has been observed with the naked eye by Timo Karhula.

FirstGalaxyConstellationYearNotes
First spiral galaxyMessier 51Canes Venatici1845Lord William Parsons, Earl of Rosse discovered the first spiral nebula from observing M51.
Notion of galaxyMilky Way Galaxy
& Messier 31
Sagittarius
& Andromeda
1923Recognition of the Milky Way and the Andromeda nebula as two separate galaxies by Edwin Hubble.
First Seyfert galaxyNGC 1068 Cetus1943
The characteristics of Seyfert galaxies were first observed in M77 in 1908, however, Seyferts were defined as a class in 1943.
First radio galaxyCygnus ACygnus1951Of several items, then called radio stars, Cygnus A was identified with a distant galaxy, being the first of many radio stars to become a radio galaxy.
First quasar3C273Virgo19623C273 was the first quasar with its redshift determined, and by some considered the first quasar.
First quasar3C48Triangulum19603C48 was the first "radio-star" with an unreadable spectrum, and by others considered the first quasar.
First superluminal galactic jet3C279Virgo1971The jet is emitted by a quasar
First low-surface-brightness galaxyMalin 1Coma Berenices1986Malin 1 was the first verified LSB galaxy. LSB galaxies had been first theorized in 1976.
First superluminal jet from a SeyfertIII Zw 2Pisces2000

Prototypes

This is a list of galaxies that became prototypes for a class of galaxies.
ClassGalaxyConstellationDateNotes
BL Lac objectBL Lacertae LacertaThis AGN was originally catalogued as a variable star, and "stars" of its type are considered BL Lac objects.
Hoag-type GalaxyHoag's ObjectSerpens CaputThis is the prototype Hoag-type ring galaxy
Giant LSB galaxyMalin 1Coma Berenices1986
FR II radio galaxy
Cygnus ACygnus1951
Starburst galaxyCigar GalaxyUrsa Major
Flocculent spiral galaxyNGC 2841Ursa Major

Closest and most distant known galaxies by type

TitleGalaxyConstellationDistanceNotes
Closest galaxyCanis Major DwarfCanis Major0.025 MlyDiscovered in 2003, a satellite of the Milky Way, slowly being cannibalised by it.
Most distant galaxyGN-z11Ursa Majorz=11.09With an estimated distance of about 32 billion light-years or 13.4 GLY astronomers announced it as the most distant astronomical galaxy known.
Closest quasar3C 273Virgoz=0.158First identified quasar, this is the most commonly accepted nearest quasar.
Most distant quasarULAS J1342+0928Boötesz=7.54This quasar was discovered in December 2017. It has a redshift of 7.54 making it the most distant known quasar in the universe. As of November 2018 it is still the most distant quasar.
Closest radio galaxyCentaurus A Centaurus13.7 Mly
Most distant radio galaxyTGSS J1530+1049Serpensz=5.72This radio galaxy was discovered in 2018, and is currently the most distant radio galaxy known.
Closest Seyfert galaxyCircinus GalaxyCircinus13 MlyThis is also the closest Seyfert 2 galaxy. The closest Seyfert 1 galaxy is NGC 4151.
Most distant Seyfert galaxyz=
Closest blazarMarkarian 421 Ursa Majorz=0.030This is a BL Lac object.
Most distant known blazarQ0906+6930Ursa Majorz=5.47This is a flat spectrum radio-loud quasar type blazar.
Closest BL Lac objectMarkarian 421 Ursa Majorz=0.030
Most distant BL Lac objectz=
Closest LINER
Most distant LINERz=
Closest LIRG
Most distant LIRGz=
Closest ULIRGIC 1127 Serpens Caputz=0.018
Most distant ULIRGz=
Closest starburst galaxyCigar Galaxy Ursa Major3.2 Mpc
Most distant starburst galaxySPT 0243-49z=5.698

Closest galaxies

TitleGalaxyDateDistanceNotes
Nearest galaxyMilky Wayalways0This is the galaxy containing the Sun and its Solar System, and therefore Earth.
Nearest galaxy to our ownCanis Major Dwarf20030.025 MlyThe absolute closest galaxy
Nearest dwarf galaxyCanis Major Dwarf20030.025 Mly
Nearest major galaxy to our ownAndromeda Galaxyalways2.54 MlyFirst identified as a separate galaxy in 1923
Nearest giant galaxyCentaurus A12 Mly

Most distant galaxies

TitleGalaxyDateRedshiftNotes
Candidate most remote galaxy UDFj-395462842011z=11.9This was proposed to be the remotest object known at time of discovery. In late 2012, its distance was revised from z=10.3 to 11.9,
however, recent re-analyses suggest it is likely to be at much lower redshift.
Most remote galaxy confirmed GN-z112016z=11.09As of March 2016, GN-z11 is the most distant known galaxy.
Most remote quasarULAS J1120+06412011z=7.085This is the undisputed most remote quasar of any type, and the first with a redshift beyond 7. Further information: List of quasars
Most distant non-quasar SMG Baby Boom Galaxy 2008z=4.547
grand-design spiral galaxyQ2343-BX4422012z=2.18

Timeline notes

TitleGalaxyDataNotes
Intrinsically brightest galaxyBaby Boom GalaxyStarburst galaxy located 12 billion light years away
Brightest galaxy to the naked eyeLarge Magellanic CloudApparent magnitude 0.6This galaxy has high surface brightness combined with high apparent brightness.
Intrinsically faintest galaxyBoötes Dwarf Galaxy Absolute magnitude −6.75This does not include dark galaxies.
Lowest surface brightness galaxyAndromeda IX
Most luminous galaxyWISE J224607.57-052635.0As of 21 May 2015, WISE-J224607.57-052635.0-20150521 is the most luminous galaxy discovered and releases 10,000 times more energy than the Milky Way galaxy, although smaller. Nearly 100 percent of the light escaping from this dusty galaxy is Infrared radiation.
Brightest distant galaxy Cosmos Redshift 7Galaxy Cosmos Redshift 7 is reported to be the brightest of distant galaxies and to contain some of the earliest first stars that produced the chemical elements needed for the later formation of planets and life as we know it.

Galaxies by mass and density

TitleGalaxyDataNotes
Least massive galaxyThis is not considered a star cluster, as it is held together by the gravitational effects of dark matter rather than just the mutual attraction of the constituent stars, gas and black holes.
Most massive galaxyCentral galaxy in Abell 3827, 1.4 Gly distant.
Most dense galaxyThis is an ultra-compact dwarf galaxy
Least dense galaxy
Most massive spiral galaxyThe preceding most massive spiral was UGC 12591
Least massive galaxy with globular

Field galaxies

GalaxyDataNotes
NGC 4555
SDSS J1021+1312

A field galaxy is a galaxy that does not belong to a larger cluster of galaxies and hence is gravitationally alone.

Interacting galaxies

GalaxiesDataNotes

  • Milky Way Galaxy
  • Large Magellanic Cloud
  • Small Magellanic Cloud
The Magellanic Clouds are being tidally disrupted by the Milky Way Galaxy, resulting in the Magellanic Stream drawing a tidal tail away from the LMC and SMC, and the Magellanic Bridge drawing material from the clouds to our galaxy.
  • Whirlpool Galaxy
  • NGC 5195
  • The smaller galaxy NGC 5195 is tidally interacting with the larger Whirlpool Galaxy, creating its grand design spiral galaxy architecture.
  • M81
  • M82
  • NGC 3077
  • These three galaxies interact with each other and draw out tidal tails, which are dense enough to form star clusters. The bridge of gas between these galaxies is known as Arp's Loop.
  • NGC 6872 and IC 4970
  • * NGC 6872
  • * IC 4970
  • NGC 6872 is a barred spiral galaxy with a grand design spiral nucleus, and distinct well-formed outer barred-spiral architecture, caused by tidal interaction with satellite galaxy IC 4970.
    Tadpole GalaxyThe Tadpole Galaxy tidally interacted with another galaxy in a close encounter, and remains slightly disrupted, with a long tidal tail.
    GalaxiesDataNotes
    Arp 299 These two galaxies have recently collided and are now both barred irregular galaxies.

    GalaxiesDataNotes
    Mayall's ObjectThis is a pair of galaxies, one which punched through the other, resulting in a ring galaxy.

    Galaxy mergers

    GalaxiesDataNotes
    Antennae Galaxies 2 galaxiesTwo spiral galaxies currently starting a collision, tidally interacting, and in the process of merger.
    Butterfly Galaxies 2 galaxiesTwo spiral galaxies in the process of starting to merge.
    Mice Galaxies 2 galaxiesTwo spiral galaxies currently tidally interacting and in the process of merger.
    NGC 5202 galaxiesTwo spiral galaxies undergoing collision, in the process of merger.
    NGC 2207 and IC 2163 2 galaxiesThese are two spiral galaxies starting to collide, in the process of merger.
    NGC 5090 and NGC 5091 2 galaxiesThese two galaxies are in the process of colliding and merging.
    NGC 7318 2 galaxiesThese are two starting to collide
    Four galaxies in CL0958+47024 galaxiesThese four near-equals at the core of galaxy cluster CL 0958+4702 are in the process of merging.
    Galaxy protocluster LBG-2377z=3.03This was announced as the most distant galaxy merger ever discovered. It is expected that this proto-cluster of galaxies will merge to form a brightest cluster galaxy, and become the core of a larger galaxy cluster.

    GalaxyDataNotes
    Starfish Galaxy This recently coalesced galaxy still has two prominent nuclei.

    Disintegrating GalaxyConsuming GalaxyNotes
    Canis Major Dwarf GalaxyMilky Way GalaxyThe Monoceros Ring is thought to be the tidal tail of the disrupted CMa dg.
    Virgo Stellar StreamMilky Way GalaxyThis is thought to be a completely disrupted dwarf galaxy.
    Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical GalaxyMilky Way GalaxyM54 is thought to be the core of this dwarf galaxy.

    Defunct GalaxyDestroyerNotes
    Omega CentauriMilky Way GalaxyThis is now categorized a globular cluster of the Milky Way. However, it is considered the core of a dwarf galaxy that the Milky Way cannibalized.
    Mayall IIAndromeda GalaxyThis is now categorized a globular cluster of Andromeda. However, it is considered the core of a dwarf galaxy that Andromeda cannibalized.

    Galaxies with some other notable feature

    Galaxy nameDistanceConstellationPropertyNotes
    M87VirgoThis is the central galaxy of the Virgo Cluster, the central cluster of the Local Supercluster It contains the first black hole ever imaged, in April 2019, by the Event Horizon Telescope.
    M102Draco This galaxy cannot be definitively identified, with the most likely candidate being NGC 5866, and a good chance of it being a misidentification of M101. Other candidates have also been suggested.
    NGC 2770Lynx"Supernova Factory"NGC 2770 is referred to as the "Supernova Factory" due to three recent supernovae occurring within it.
    NGC 3314 Hydraexact visual alignmentThis is a pair of spiral galaxies, one superimposed on another, at two separate and distinct ranges, and unrelated to each other. It is a rare chance visual alignment.
    ESO 137-001Triangulum Australe"tail" featureLying in the galaxy cluster Abell 3627, this galaxy is being stripped of its gas by the pressure of the intracluster medium, due to its high speed traversal through the cluster, and is leaving a high density tail with large amounts of star formation. The tail features the largest amount of star formation outside of a galaxy seen so far. The galaxy has the appearance of a comet, with the head being the galaxy, and a tail of gas and stars.
    Comet GalaxySculptorinteracting with a galaxy clusterLying in galaxy cluster Abell 2667, this spiral galaxy is being tidally stripped of stars and gas through its high speed traversal through the cluster, having the appearance of a comet.
    4C 37.11230 MpcPerseusLeast separation between binary central black holes, at 24 ly OJ 287 has an inferred pair with a 12-year orbital period, and thus would be much closer than 4C 37.11's pair.
    SDSS J150636.30+540220.9

    z = 0.608BoötesMost efficient star productionMost extreme example in the list of moderate-redshift galaxies with the highest density starbursts yet observed found in the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer data.
    Cosmos Redshift 7z = 6.604SextansBrightest distant galaxy Galaxy Cosmos Redshift 7 is reported to be the brightest of distant galaxies and to contain some of the earliest first stars that produced the chemical elements needed for the later formation of planets and life as we know it.

    Lists of galaxies