The Local Sheet is a nearby region of the observable universe where the Milky Way, the members of the Local Group and other galaxies share a similar peculiar velocity.[1] This region lies within a radius of about 7 mpc, and galaxies beyond that distance show markedly different velocities.[2] The Local Group has only a relatively small peculiar velocity of 66 km s−1 with respect to the Local Sheet. Typical velocity dispersion of galaxies within the Local Sheet is only 40 km s−1 in the radial direction.[1]
A significant component of the net velocity of the galaxies in the Local Sheet comes as the result of the gravitational attraction of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. This results in a peculiar motion of about 185 km s−1 toward the cluster.[1] A second component is directed away from the center of the Local Void; an expanding region of space spanning an estimated 45 mpc that is only sparsely populated with galaxies.[2] This component has a velocity of 259 km s−1.[1]
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