Galaxies
What are galaxies and how are they held together?
A galaxy is a large group of stars, star systems, star clusters, dust, and gas. Many galaxies have colossal black holes in the middle. Usually, galaxies have billions of stars and occur in clusters. They are held together by the power of gravity.
Types of Galaxies
A galaxy is a large group of stars, star systems, star clusters, dust, and gas. Many galaxies have colossal black holes in the middle. Usually, galaxies have billions of stars and occur in clusters. They are held together by the power of gravity.
Types of Galaxies
![Picture](/uploads/2/8/6/2/28625537/912833955.jpg)
Spiral Galaxies
These types of galaxies contain young stars along with gas and dust. New stars usually create the spiral arms coming out of the galaxy. It is spiraled outward, slightly resembling the shape of a pinwheel. The Andromeda Galaxy is an example of a spiral galaxy. From the Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy is the closest and largest.
These types of galaxies contain young stars along with gas and dust. New stars usually create the spiral arms coming out of the galaxy. It is spiraled outward, slightly resembling the shape of a pinwheel. The Andromeda Galaxy is an example of a spiral galaxy. From the Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy is the closest and largest.
![Picture](/uploads/2/8/6/2/28625537/593078846.jpg?1398979600)
Elliptical Galaxies
Shaped like an oval or egg, elliptical galaxies have a distinct shape. They are mostly made of billions of stars, and little amounts of gas and dust. Due to the fact that there is little gas and dust to create new stars, elliptical galaxies normally contain old stars. Maffei 1 is an elliptical galaxy contained in the constellation Cassiopeia.
Shaped like an oval or egg, elliptical galaxies have a distinct shape. They are mostly made of billions of stars, and little amounts of gas and dust. Due to the fact that there is little gas and dust to create new stars, elliptical galaxies normally contain old stars. Maffei 1 is an elliptical galaxy contained in the constellation Cassiopeia.
![Picture](/uploads/2/8/6/2/28625537/299094136.jpg?191)
Irregular Galaxies
Irregular galaxies take on an abstract looking shape. Generally, these types of galaxies are smaller than others. They contain young stars, and a plentiful amount of gas and dust to form the new stars. Their distorted shape is due to the fact that the are usually located near larger galaxies. Larger galaxies means a greater gravitational pull, causing its shape to become irregular. One of the closest galaxies from ours, The Large Magellanic Cloud is an irregular galaxy.
Irregular galaxies take on an abstract looking shape. Generally, these types of galaxies are smaller than others. They contain young stars, and a plentiful amount of gas and dust to form the new stars. Their distorted shape is due to the fact that the are usually located near larger galaxies. Larger galaxies means a greater gravitational pull, causing its shape to become irregular. One of the closest galaxies from ours, The Large Magellanic Cloud is an irregular galaxy.
The Milky Way
![Picture](/uploads/2/8/6/2/28625537/426681012.jpg)
Earth and our solar system is contained in the Milky Way. It is a spiral galaxy with a disk shape. Our planet's location in the Milky Way is in one of the spiral arms. New evidence make several believe that the Milky Way is a barred-spiral galaxy, meaning that it has a bar-shaped area in the center with stars and gas. From, the center of the Milky Way to us, it is about 25,000 light-years. The Milky Way is around 100,000 light years wide.