Closest galaxy to the Milky Way
- Who
- Canis Major
- What
- 42,000 light year(s)
- Where
- United Kingdom
- When
- 01 January 0001
The Canis Major dwarf galaxy was only discovered in 2003 and lies an average of just 42,000 light years from the centre of our galaxy. It was hard to detect as it is behind the plane of our spiral galaxy as seen from Earth. The shape of the dwarf galaxy indicates it is in the process of being ripped apart and absorbed by the gravity of the Milky Way.