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Galaxy Facts
Milky Way Galaxy Facts
Milky Way Galaxy Facts
Name
: Milky Way Galaxy
Type of Galaxy
: Spiral Galaxy
Estimated Size
: Between 150 and 200 light-years (diameter)
Estimated Stars
: Between 100 and 400 billion stars
Distance to Galactic Center
: ± 26.4 kilolight-years
Location of Earth
: In the Orion Arm
Satellite Galaxies
: 59
13 Milky Way Galaxy Facts for Kids
Milky Way is a spiral galaxy in our universe.
The Milky Way Galaxy has an estimated diameter between 150 and 200 light-years.
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our Solar System, the home of our planet Earth.
The Milky Way Galaxy is estimated to have a diameter between 150 and 200 light-years.
Our planet Earth is estimated to be 26.4 kilolight-years from the Milky Way's galactic center.
Astronomers estimate our Milky Way Galaxy has between 100 and 400 billion stars.
Astronomers estimate our Milky Way galaxy has at least 100 billion planets.
Astronomers estimate the mass of the Milky Way to be 1.5 trillion solar masses.
The center of the Milky Way Galaxy contains a supermassive black hole.
The Milky Way Galaxy is a member of the Local Group. The Local Group is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.
The Milky Way Galaxy is the only known galaxy to have a planet where life has evolved.
The Milky Way Galaxy and Andromeda Galaxy will collide with each other in about 4.5 billion years and form a new elliptical or lenticular galaxy.
Prior to the 1920s, astronomers thought the Milky Way Galaxy contained all the stars in our universe.
More Galaxy Facts
Andromeda Galaxy Facts
Black Eye Galaxy Facts
Elliptical Galaxy Facts
Irregular Galaxy Facts
Lenticular Galaxy Facts
Milky Way Galaxy Facts
Sombrero Galaxy Facts
Spiral Galaxy Facts
Whirlpool Galaxy Facts
More Galaxy Facts
Select another galaxy...
Andromeda Galaxy Facts
Black Eye Galaxy Facts
Elliptical Galaxy Facts
Irregular Galaxy Facts
Lenticular Galaxy Facts
Milky Way Galaxy Facts
Sombrero Galaxy Facts
Spiral Galaxy Facts
Whirlpool Galaxy Facts
Milky Way Galaxy Pictures
A map of the Milky Way Galaxy showing where the planet Earth is located.
Credit: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
A beautiful picture of the bright band of the Milky Way Galaxy in Wyoming.
Credit: Babak Tafreshi / Nat Geo
An infrared photo of the center of the Milk Way Galaxy by Spitzer Space Telescope.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Susan Stolovy
Additional Resources with Milky Way Galaxy Facts
Milky Way Galaxy: Our Galactic Home
- Find more Milk Way Galaxy facts on the Space.com website.
Milky Way Galaxy - Britannica
- Discover more awesome things about the Milky Way Galaxy on the Britannica website.
Milky Way - Wikipedia
- Learn about the Milky Way galaxy on the Wikipedia website.