Astronomy:List of largest galaxies

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A Hubble Space Telescope image of the supergiant elliptical galaxy ESO 306-17. Supergiant elliptical galaxies are some of the largest galaxies known.

This is a list of largest galaxies known, sorted by order of increasing major axis diameters. The unit of measurement used is the light-year (approximately 9.46×1012 kilometers).

Overview

The Condor Galaxy is a colossal spiral galaxy disturbed by the smaller IC 4970. It is the largest known spiral galaxy with the isophotal diameter of over 717,000 light-years (220 kiloparsecs).[1]

Galaxies are vast collections of stars, planets, nebulae and other objects that are surrounded by an interstellar medium and held together by gravity. They do not have a definite boundary by nature, and are characterized with gradually decreasing stellar density as a function of increasing distance from its center. Because of this, measuring the sizes of galaxies can often be difficult and have a wide range of results depending on the sensitivity of the detection equipment and the methodology being used. Some galaxies emit more strongly in wavelengths outside the visible spectrum, depending on its stellar population, whose stars may emit more strongly in other wavelengths that are beyond the detection range. It is also important to consider the morphology of the galaxy when attempting to measure its size - an issue that has been raised by the Russian astrophysicist B.A. Vorontsov-Vel'Yaminov in 1961, which considers separate determination methods in measuring the sizes of spiral and elliptical galaxies.[2]

For a full context about how the diameters of galaxies are measured, including the estimation methods stated in this list, see section Galaxy.

List

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Listed below are galaxies with diameters greater than 700,000 light-years. This list uses the mean cosmological parameters of the Lambda-CDM model based on results from the 2015 Planck collaboration, where H0 = 67.74 km/s/Mpc, ΩΛ = 0.6911, and Ωm = 0.3089.[3] Due to different techniques, each figure listed on the galaxies has varying degrees of confidence in them. The reference to those sizes plus further additional details can be accessed by clicking the link for NED on the right-hand side of the table.

Galaxies with diameters greater than 700,000 light-years
Galaxy name/designation Major axis diameter (in light-years) Minor axis diameter (in light years) Morphology Estimation
method 		Link for object
ESO 383-76 (ESO 383-G 076)[lower-alpha 1] 1,764,000 882,100 cD5; E5; BrClG 90% total B-light NED
ESO 248-6 (ESO 248-G 006)[lower-alpha 1] 1,731,000 830,700 S0?; BrClG 90% total B-light NED
ESO 409-25 (ESO 409-G 025)[lower-alpha 1] 1,454,000 901,700 cD4; E4; BrClG 90% total B-light NED
Abell 3039 BCG B 1,290,000 438,600 cD 2MASS K-band total mag NED
2MASX J14102504+6337103 1,134,000 1,134,000 ~[lower-alpha 2] 2MASS K-band total mag NED
ESO 151-41 (ESO 151-G 041) 1,132,000 453,000 Sc 90% total B-light NED
MCG-04-02-013[lower-alpha 1] 1,115,000 1,115,000 E 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
Abell 1576 BCG 1,077,000 517,200 cD db 2MASS K-band total mag NED
ESO 306-17 (ESO 306-G 017) 1,070,000 706,100 cD3; E3 90% total B-light NED
ESO 350-15 (ESO 350-G 015) 1,043,000 521,600 cD3; E3 90% total B-light NED
Abell 2397 BCG 1,014,000 588,300 cD 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 1146 BCG 1,009,000 767,100 E 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 747 BCG 995,300 437,900 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
LEDA 1273002 975,400 419,400 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
LEDA 1838034 958,600 517,700 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
ESO 473-5 (ESO 473-G 005) 944,600 517,700 Sc; BrClG 90% total B-light NED
Abell 1942 BCG 939,200 638,700 BrClG; AGN 2MASS K-band total mag NED
LEDA 1654342 916,400 623,100 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 384 BCG 913,900 274,200 ~[lower-alpha 2] 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 697 BCG[lower-alpha 1] 885,200 637,400 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 3300 BCG 878,800 386,700 cD 2MASS K-band total mag NED
OGC 666 876,300 455,700 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 1437B BCG 868,300 538,400 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
ESO 443-11 (ESO 443-G 011) 866,500 407,300 cD; SAB00 pec; BrClG 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
4C +41.26 862,300 724,400 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 963 BCG 841,200 605,700 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
ESO 541-13 (ESO 541-G 013) 840,700 655,700 cD; E3 pec 90% total B-light NED
MACS J0024.5+3312 BCG 830,600 548,200 ~[lower-alpha 2] 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 1602 BCG 822,000 575,400 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
NGC 623 803,900 611,000 cD; E 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
PGC 6616 803,800 401,900 E 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
Abell 1413 BCG[lower-alpha 1] 801,400 256,400 cD; E; BrClG 25.0 r-mag arcsec−2 NED
ESO 291-9 (ESO 291-G 009) 795,100 461,200 cD4; SA0−;BrClG 90% total B-light NED
Abell 1504 BCG 790,200 458,300 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
LEDA 1816387 782,500 336,500 ~[lower-alpha 2] 2MASS K-band total mag NED
NVSS J080730+340042 780,900 359,200 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
LEDA 2066332[lower-alpha 1] 779,700 467,800 ~[lower-alpha 2] 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 812 BCG[lower-alpha 1] 772,900 541,000 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
7C 1043+5953 771,000 400,900 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 1785B BCG 769,800 508,100 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
LEDA 2463193 769,500 769,500 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 781 b 766,500 337,300 BrClG 25.0 r-mag arcsec−2 NED
Abell 655 BCG 760,000 577,600 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
LEDA 1460988 755,500 438,200 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
NGC 4038[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 1] 752,000 541,400 SB(s)m pec 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
2MASX J01331683+2311233 751,700 278,100 ~[lower-alpha 2] 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 908 BCG 750,200 555,100 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 2061 b[lower-alpha 1] 747,700 583,200 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 2397 G1 745,700 432,500 cD 2MASS K-band total mag NED
ESO 198-1 (ESO 198-G 001) 741,600 563,600 cD4; E4 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
3C 295 738,000 738,000 E/S0;LEG;BrClG NLRG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 267 BCG 736,700 302,000 BrClG 25.0 r-mag arcsec−2 NED
Abell 1758N BCG 731,500 321,900 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 360 BCG 727,700 363,900 cD 2MASS K-band total mag NED
ESO 251-21 (ESO 251-G 021) 727,700 458,400 SAB0- pec; E/S0 90% total B-light NED
LEDA 2188433 721,600 721,600 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 1807 BCG 720,200 475,300 cD 2MASS K-band total mag NED
NGC 6872 717,000 143,400 SAB(rs)c 25.5 r-mag arcsec−2 NED
Abell S1077 BCG 716,900 372,800 ~[lower-alpha 2] 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 2125 BCG 715,200 515,200 E[lower-alpha 4] 2MASS K-band total mag NED
B3 1715+425 715,200 472,000 BrClG; AGN[lower-alpha 5] 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 2219 BCG 713,400 385,300 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
ESO 552-20 (ESO 552-G 020)[lower-alpha 1] 710,000 411,800 cD; E 90% total B-light NED
ESO 11-4 (ESO 011-G 004) 707,400 488,100 cD4; E4 pec 90% total B-light NED
IC 1633[lower-alpha 1] 705,700 543,400 cD; E1 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
LEDA 2262657 704,000 521,000 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
LEDA 1869052[lower-alpha 1] 703,100 464,000 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
NGC 1759 702,800 632,500 cD; E 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
LEDA 1869814 702,100 463,300 BrClG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell S235 BCG 700,900 252,300 cD 2MASS K-band total mag NED

Listed below are some notable galaxies under 700,000 light-years in diameter, for the purpose of comparison. All links to NED are available, except for the Milky Way, which is linked to the relevant paper detailing its size.

Notable galaxies with diameters 700,000 light-years or less
Galaxy name/designation Major axis diameter (in light-years) Minor axis diameter (in light years) Morphology Estimation
method 		Link for object
ESO 444-46 (ESO 444-G 046)[lower-alpha 1] 670,700 382,300 cD4; E4; BrClG 27.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
Tadpole Galaxy 558,400 111,700 SB(s)c pec 25.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
IC 1101[lower-alpha 1] 553,200 449,700 cD; S0- 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Abell 2261 BCG[lower-alpha 1] 544,600 533,800 cD; E 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Hercules A 459,800 285,100 E; WLRG; NLRG 2MASS K-band total mag NED
UGC 2885 (Rubin's Galaxy)[lower-alpha 1] 438,100 201,500 SA(rs)c 25.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
NGC 1399[lower-alpha 1] 412,300 379,300 cD; E1 pec 90% total B-light NED
NeVe 1 332,100 239,100 cD; E 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Alcyoneus 242,900[lower-alpha 6] 155,400 E 25.0 r-mag arcsec−2 NED
Andromeda Galaxy 152,300 152,300 SA(s)b 25.0 mag/arcsec2 NED
Messier 87[lower-alpha 1] 118,800[lower-alpha 7] 93,870 cD; E0-E1 pec; NLRG; Sy 25.0 B-mag arcsec−2 NED
Malin 1 118,700[lower-alpha 8] 118,700 S; LSB 2MASS K-band total mag NED
NGC 262[lower-alpha 1] 101,100 78,860 SA(s)0/a; Sy2 2MASS K-band total mag NED
Milky Way 87,400 ± 3,590 87,400 ± 3,590 Sb; Sbc; SB(rs)bc 25.0 B-mag arcsec−2 [4][5]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 The physical diameters given by NED for this object are based on the mean of one or more redshift-independent distance techniques, which are subject to errors and sensitivity to extreme values. The diameters given for this object in this list was based on NED's provided scale "Virgo + GA + Shapley" multiplied with the values for the angular diameter of the cited estimation method.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Morphology unlisted; images show an elliptical galaxy.
  3. ↑ The larger galaxy in the Antennae Galaxies pair.
  4. ↑ Starburst galaxy
  5. ↑ A blazar.
  6. ↑ Major axis refers to the visible stellar axis of the host galaxy. Radio lobes are 15 million light-years across, though not considered a part of the main galaxy.
  7. ↑ This is the diameter as measured through the 25.0 mag/arcsec−2 isophote at the B-band. The diffuse stellar halo of this galaxy extends up to 300 kiloparsecs (980,000 light-years) across.
  8. ↑ This is the diameter measured through the quoted estimation method. This galaxy has an immense, diffuse low-surface brightness spiral extending up to 200 kiloparsecs (650,000 light-years) across.

References

  1. ↑ "Your NED Search Results". https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=NGC+6872&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES. 
  2. ↑ Vorontsov-Vel'Yaminov, B. A. (1961). "The Comparison of Galaxy Diameters". Soviet Astronomy 4: 735. Bibcode: 1961SvA.....4..735V. https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1961SvA.....4..735V. 
  3. ↑ Ade, P. A. R. et al. (2016). "Planck2015 results". Astronomy & Astrophysics 594: A13. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201525830. Bibcode: 2016A&A...594A..13P. 
  4. ↑ Goodwin, S. P.; Gribbin, J.; Hendry, M. A. (22 April 1997). "The Milky Way is just an average spiral". arXiv:astro-ph/9704216.
  5. ↑ Goodwin, S. P.; Gribbin, J.; Hendry, M. A. (August 1998). "The relative size of the Milky Way". The Observatory 118: 201–208. Bibcode: 1998Obs...118..201G. 

Further reading



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