
Milky Way - Wikipedia
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy with a D 25 isophotal diameter estimated at 26.8 ± 1.1 kiloparsecs (87,400 ± 3,600 light-years), [10] but only about 1,000 light-years thick at the spiral …
Milky Way Galaxy | Size, Definition, & Facts | Britannica
Oct 24, 2025 · Milky Way Galaxy (sometimes simply called the Galaxy), large spiral system of about several hundred billion stars, one of which is the Sun. It takes its name from the Milky …
The Milky Way Galaxy: Facts You Should Know
May 3, 2025 · The Milky Way is classified as a spiral galaxy, which means it has a distinct, flat disk-shaped structure with arms that spiral outward from a dense central bulge.
Is the Milky Way Unique? - Science@NASA
Sep 4, 2025 · It is just one of billions of galaxies, but the Milky Way is our galaxy, our home in the universe. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains a supermassive black hole at its core, …
What Is a Milky Way | Milky Way Galaxy Facts - Star Walk
May 19, 2025 · To be more specific, the Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, which means it has a central bar-shaped straight structure composed of stars. This bar contains the galaxy’s …
Milky Way Galaxy - Universe Map
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, with a central bar-shaped core and multiple spiral arms radiating outward. These arms are sites of active star formation, filled with young, hot stars, …
The Milky Way Galaxy - Harvard–Smithsonian Center for …
The Milky Way is our galactic home, part of the story of how we came to be. Astronomers have learned that it’s a large spiral galaxy, similar to many others, but also different in ways that …
The Milky Way: facts about our home galaxy - BBC Sky at Night …
The Milky Way is a barred galaxy made up of stars, gas and dust bound together by gravity. It formed around 13.6 billion years ago.
The Milky Way: Understanding Our Place in the Galaxy
Nov 1, 2023 · These powerful instruments unveiled an astonishing truth: The Milky Way is not a mere collection of stars but a galaxy with a graceful spiral shape. And contrary to popular …
Milky Way galaxy: Facts about our cosmic neighborhood | Space
Apr 18, 2023 · The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy around 13.6 billion years old with large pivoting arms stretching out across the cosmos.