Though it lies close to NGC 1 in the sky, NGC 2 is not directly related, and actually lies a considerable distance beyond NGC 1. Its two most related galaxies in fact lie some distance to the southwest in the sky: two companion spirals designated UGC 13 and UGC 40.
The spiral galaxy immediately to the north of NGC 2 in this image is NGC 1, which actually lies nearly fifty million light years closer to the Milky Way than NGC 2. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas
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