List of largest galaxies

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).

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

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]

Overview

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#Physical diameters.

List

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, Ω_Λ = 0.6911, and Ω_m = 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 the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (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)[a]	1,764,000	882,100	cD5; E5; BrClG	90% total B-light	NED
ESO 248-6 (ESO 248-G 006)[a]	1,731,000	830,700	S0?; BrClG	90% total B-light	NED
ESO 409-25 (ESO 409-G 025)[a]	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
ESO 347-9 (ESO 347-G 009)	1,212,000	436,300	S...; cD	90% total B-light	NED
2MASX J14102504+6337103	1,134,000	1,134,000	~[b]	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[a]	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
OGC 94	1,036,000	403,900	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	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
2MASX J12114313+0801071	933,900	467,000	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
MCG +09-25-047	932,900	205,300	~[b]	Intermediate surface brightness	NED
LEDA 1654342	916,400	623,100	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
ESO 156-18 (ESO 156-G 018)	916,000	421,400	SAB(s)00: pec	90% total B-light	NED
OGC 169	915,700	659,300	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 384 BCG	913,900	274,200	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
ESO 206-2 (ESO 206-G 002)	913,600	420,300	cD; S	90% total B-light	NED
ESO 286-41 (ESO 286-G 041)	897,000	502,300	SA(s)0+; cD	90% total B-light	NED
Abell 697 BCG[a]	885,200	637,400	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 511	883,100	618,400	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
OGC 116	868,100	538,200	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
QSO J0931+3204	865,600[c]	398,200	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	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
OGC 560	830,900	598,200	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
MACS J0024.5+3312 BCG	830,600	548,200	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 369	827,300	413,700	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 1602 BCG	822,000	575,400	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
B3 1448+445	813,900	634,800	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[a]	801,400	256,400	cD; E; BrClG	25.0 r-mag arcsec−2	NED
LEDA 1143180	800,300	512,200	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 773N BCG	798,000	590,500	BrClG; cD	2MASS K-band total mag	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
LCSB S1161P	788,800	284,000	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 31	785,800	345,800	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 763	784,500	564,800	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
LEDA 1816387	782,500	336,500	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
LEDA 1118210	782,400	594,600	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
NVSS J080730+340042	780,900	359,200	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
LEDA 2066332[a]	779,700	467,800	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 1311	776,900	419,500	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 812 BCG[a]	772,900	541,000	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 856	772,200	509,700	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
B2 1132+32	763,600	381,800	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 231[a]	762,000	487,700	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 26	760,700	699,900	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 655 BCG	760,000	577,600	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 499	757,800	515,300	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
LEDA 1969788	756,500	378,200	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
LEDA 1460988	755,500	438,200	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
NGC 4038[d][a]	752,000	541,400	SB(s)m pec	27.0 B-mag arcsec−2	NED
2MASX J01331683+2311233	751,700	278,100	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 908 BCG	750,200	555,100	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
2MASX J00193870+0335573	748,100	433,900	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 2061 b[a]	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
OGC 188	742,900	534,900	BrClG	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
OGC 199	737,500	457,200	BrClG	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
OGC 667	722,900	375,900	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
LEDA 2188433	721,600	721,600	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 235	720,200	576,200	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 1807 BCG	720,200	475,300	cD	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 898	719,900	417,500	~[b]	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	~[b]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 2125 BCG	715,200	515,200	E[e]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
B3 1715+425	715,200	472,000	BrClG; AGN[f]	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 2219 BCG	713,400	385,300	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
OGC 966	710,000	284,000	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
ESO 552-20 (ESO 552-G 020)[a]	710,000	411,800	cD; E	90% total B-light	NED
OGC 512	709,700	340,700	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
ESO 11-4 (ESO 011-G 004)	707,400	488,100	cD4; E4 pec	90% total B-light	NED
IC 1633[a]	705,700	543,400	cD; E1	27.0 B-mag arcsec−2	NED
ESO 443-4 (ESO 443-G 004)	705,200	423,100	cD; S0; BrClG	90% total B-light	NED
LEDA 2262657	704,000	521,000	BrClG	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
LEDA 1869052[a]	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)[a]	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[a]	553,200	449,700	cD; S0-	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Abell 2261 BCG[a]	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")[a]	438,100	201,500	SA(rs)c	25.0 B-mag arcsec−2	NED
NGC 1399[a]	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[g]	155,400	E	25.0 r-mag arcsec−2	NED
Andromeda Galaxy	152,300	152,300	SA(s)b	25.0 mag/arcsec2	NED
Centaurus A	123,100	94,750	S0pec; Sy2; BL Lac	90% total B-light	NED
Messier 87[a]	118,800[h]	93,870	cD; E0-E1 pec; NLRG; Sy	25.0 B-mag arcsec−2	NED
Malin 1	118,700[i]	118,700	S; LSB	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
NGC 262[a]	101,100	78,860	SA(s)0/a; Sy2	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Messier 81 ("Bode's Galaxy")	96,000	~[j]	SA(s)ab; LINER	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Milky Way	87,400 ± 3,600	87,400 ± 3,600	Sb; Sbc; SB(rs)bc	25.0 B-mag arcsec−2	[4][5]
Messier 82 ("Cigar Galaxy")	47,300	21,800	I0; Sburst	2MASS K-band total mag	NED
Large Magellanic Cloud	32,500	~[k]	SB(s)m	25.0 B-mag arcsec−2	NED

See also

• List of largest stars
• List of most massive stars
• List of most massive black holes
• List of largest cosmic structures
• List of largest nebulae

Notes

1. 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. Morphology unlisted; images show an elliptical galaxy.
3. Has 14 million light year radio lobes, however they are not considered a part of the galaxy.
4. The larger galaxy in the Antennae Galaxies pair.
5. Starburst galaxy
6. A blazar.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. No stated minor axis
11. No stated minor axis