The group of galaxies about 8 million l.y. in diameter which contains our Galaxy. There are over 50 known members of the Local Group, most of them dwarf spheroidal companions of our own Galaxy or the Andromeda Galaxy. The nearest other prominent galaxies (Sculptor and M81 groups) are considerably farther away, about 10 million l.y. The total mass of the Local Group is estimated at about 2 × 1012 solar masses. The brightest members are the three spirals: the Andromeda Galaxy, our Galaxy, and M33. Other faint dwarf galaxies doubtless remain to be discovered.