Local Group
The Local Group is the galaxy group that includes the Milky Way. It has a total diameter of roughly 3 megaparsecs, and a total mass of the order of 2×1012 solar masses. It consists of two clusters of galaxies in a "dumbbell" shape: the Milky Way and its satellites form one lobe, and the Andromeda Galaxy and its satellites constitute the other. The two clusters are separated by about 0.8 Mpc and move towards one another with a velocity of 123 km/s. The group itself is a part of the larger Virgo Supercluster. The total number of galaxies in the Local Group is unknown as some are occluded by the Milky Way; however, at least 80 such objects are known (most of which are dwarf galaxies).
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