Hickson Compact Group 40
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 . Pictured above 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.