IC 1101 size and scale context

IC 1101 is an enormous cluster-central galaxy embedded in Abell 2029. Systems like this grow huge diffuse halos by cannibalizing neighboring galaxies over billions of years, which is why IC 1101 has long been treated as one of the most extreme single galaxies known. Read its scale context, comparisons, and journey links on the canonical object page.

Small Magellanic CloudDwarf irregular galaxy·18,892 ly
Large Magellanic CloudDwarf irregular galaxy·32,200 ly
Milky WayBarred spiral galaxy·100,000 ly
Andromeda GalaxyBarred spiral galaxy·152,000 ly
IC 1101Giant elliptical galaxy·500,000 ly
NGC 6872Interacting giant spiral galaxy·716,000 ly

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