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Galaxies, like stars, frequently
form groups. A group of galaxies is a system containing more than two
galaxies but less than the tens or hundreds typically found in a cluster
of galaxies.
A most notable example is the
Local Group of Galaxies, which houses over 30 galaxies including our
Milky Way, Andromeda, and the Magellanic Clouds. This picture is nearby
compact group Hickson 40. This group is located about 300 million light-years
away toward the constellation of Hydra. Of the five prominent galaxies
in Hickson 40, three are spirals, one is an elliptical and one is a
lenticular.
Many galaxies in compact groups
are either slowly merging or gravitationally pulling each other apart.