Difference between revisions of "Milky Way Galaxy"
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The Milky Way is a [[galaxy]] that is home to the [[Solar System]] and the [[Earth]]. While it is difficult to determine the structure of our galaxy from our position within it, about 30,000 [[light-year|light-years]] from the center, astronomers believe it is a barred spiral approximately 100,000 light-years across, smaller than our neighboring [[Andromeda galaxy]] and with a less tightly-wrapped structure to the four spiral arms. The Milky Way has two irregular "satellite" galaxies nearby called the [[Large Magellanic Cloud]] and the [[Small Magellanic Cloud]]. There are at least 200 billion stars estimated to lie in the Milky Way. | The Milky Way is a [[galaxy]] that is home to the [[Solar System]] and the [[Earth]]. While it is difficult to determine the structure of our galaxy from our position within it, about 30,000 [[light-year|light-years]] from the center, astronomers believe it is a barred spiral approximately 100,000 light-years across, smaller than our neighboring [[Andromeda galaxy]] and with a less tightly-wrapped structure to the four spiral arms. The Milky Way has two irregular "satellite" galaxies nearby called the [[Large Magellanic Cloud]] and the [[Small Magellanic Cloud]]. There are at least 200 billion stars estimated to lie in the Milky Way. | ||
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Revision as of 09:46, July 18, 2007
The Milky Way is a galaxy that is home to the Solar System and the Earth. While it is difficult to determine the structure of our galaxy from our position within it, about 30,000 light-years from the center, astronomers believe it is a barred spiral approximately 100,000 light-years across, smaller than our neighboring Andromeda galaxy and with a less tightly-wrapped structure to the four spiral arms. The Milky Way has two irregular "satellite" galaxies nearby called the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud. There are at least 200 billion stars estimated to lie in the Milky Way.