The diameter of the Local Group is about 100 times the diameter of the Milky Way. Selected basis: approximate values.
The ring marks the true-scale position of the Milky Way; it does not show its width. Only the inset is enlarged (×20.8).
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions.
30.66 kpc - Diameter; approximate.
The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy containing hundreds of billions of stars, including our Solar System.
A rounded 100,000 light-year span of the stellar disk. Faint stars and the dark-matter halo extend farther; galaxies have no crisp rim.
NASA — Galaxies3.066 Mpc - Diameter; rounded reference.
The Local Group is a collection of galaxies that includes the Milky Way, Andromeda, and several smaller galaxies.
A rounded 10 million light-year span for the neighbourhood of galaxies. Galaxy groups have no solid edge.
Defined examples — our methodology
There’s always another scale
SpaceMilky Way30.66 kpcThe Milky Way is a spiral galaxy containing hundreds of billions of stars, including our Solar System.
SpaceLocal Group3.066 MpcThe Local Group is a collection of galaxies that includes the Milky Way, Andromeda, and several smaller galaxies.
SpaceSun1,391,000 kmThe Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System.
SpaceDistance to the galactic centre7.972 kpcThis is the distance from the Solar System to the centre of the Milky Way galaxy.SpaceAndromeda galaxy79.72 kpcThe Andromeda galaxy, also called M31, is the nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.
SpaceObservable universe28.21 GpcThe observable universe is the region from which light or other signals have had time to reach us since the early universe.SpaceEarth–Sun distance1 AUThe Earth–Sun distance, or astronomical unit, is the standard measure of separation between Earth and the Sun used in astronomy.Side by side
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scaleGot a good eye for scale?