dwarf galaxy

small galaxy composed of up to several billion stars

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A dwarf galaxy is a small galaxy made up of billions of stars, much smaller than giant galaxies like our Milky Way. Astronomers study dwarf galaxies to better understand how galaxies form and evolve, since they are common in the universe and may contain clues about the early cosmos.

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Commons category: Dwarf galaxies

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The Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way

A dwarf galaxy is a small galaxy composed of about 1000 up to several billion stars, as compared to the Milky Way's 100–400 billion stars. The Large Magellanic Cloud, which closely orbits the Milky Way and contains over 30 billion stars, is sometimes classified as a dwarf galaxy; others consider it a full-fledged galaxy. Dwarf galaxies' formation and activity are thought to be heavily influenced by interactions with larger galaxies. Astronomers identify numerous types of dwarf galaxies, based on their shape and composition.