What does this number measure?
An irregular dwarf galaxy in the Local Group, dotted with star-forming regions. The 7 000 light-year reference approximately describes the bright optical stellar body. It measures neither the entire envelope of faint stars nor the extensive surrounding gas; the boundary depends on the adopted brightness threshold.
Compare the stated dimensions
The comparison uses the number in each fact sheet: altitude, height, diameter, length or distance, depending on the reference. Two values in metres do not necessarily describe the same property.
Source and limitations
Proposed catalogue value, an order of magnitude not audited online in this session; an HTTPS source is provided for checking.
Interpretive illustration of the optical stellar body of the irregular dwarf galaxy NGC 6822; the distribution of stars and bright regions is illustrated without an exact map. Its faint envelope and gas extend beyond the chosen reference.