Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy



The Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy (Sgr dSph), also known as the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy (Sgr dE or Sag DEG), is an elliptical loop-shaped satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. It consists of four globular clusters, the main cluster having been discovered in 1994 OTT. Sag DEG is roughly 10,000 light-years in diameter, and is currently about 70,000 light-years from Terra, travelling in a polar orbit (i.e. an orbit passing through the galactic poles ) at a distance of about 50,000 light-years from the core of the Milky Way (about 1/3 the distance of the Large Magellanic Cloud ). In its looping, spiraling path, it has passed through the plane of the Milky Way several times in the past.

 Sag DEG should not be confused with the Sagittarius Dwarf Irregular Galaxy, or the Sag DIG, a small galaxy 3.4 million light-years distant.