Local Group of galaxies. Computer illustration of the Local Group of galaxies showing their position relative to our Milky Way (spiral at lower right). The concentric shells mark distances of 500, 000 light years from the Milky Way. At upper left is the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), 2. 9 million light years from Earth. Below and to the left of M31 is M33, a smaller spiral galaxy. Apart from M31, M33 and the Milky Way, the Local Group consists of small irregular or elliptical galaxies associated with either the Milky Way or M31. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, satellites of our galaxy, are seen just below and to the left of it.