Galaxy - Wikipedia
WebA galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek galaxias (γαλαξίας), literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System.
Galaxy | Definition, Formation, Types, Properties, & Facts
WebApr 22, 2024 · A galaxy is any of the systems of stars and interstellar matter that make up the universe. Many such assemblages are so enormous that they contain hundreds of billions of stars. Galaxies usually exist in clusters, some of which measure hundreds of millions of light-years across.
Galaxies - NASA Science
WebGalaxy Basics. Galaxies consist of stars, planets, and vast clouds of gas and dust, all bound together by gravity. The largest contain trillions of stars and can be more than a million light-years across. The smallest can contain a few thousand stars and span just a few hundred light-years.
Galaxies—facts and information - National Geographic
WebApril 17, 2019. •6 min read. Galaxies are sprawling systems of dust, gas, dark matter, and anywhere from a million to a trillion stars that are held together by gravity. Nearly all large...
Galaxies | HubbleSite
WebJan 31, 2024 · Galaxies are vast cosmic islands of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter held together by gravity. Hubble’s keen eye has revealed intricate details of the shapes, structures, and histories of galaxies — whether alone, as part of small groups, or within immense clusters.
What Is a Galaxy? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
Web4 days ago · The Short Answer: A galaxy is a huge collection of gas, dust, and billions of stars and their solar systems, all held together by gravity. We live on a planet called Earth that is part of our solar system. But where is our solar system? It’s …
Size, composition, and structure of galaxies | Britannica
Webgalaxy, Any of the billions of systems of star s and interstellar matter that make up the universe. Galaxies vary considerably in size, composition, structure, and activity, but nearly all are arranged in groups, or clusters, containing from a few galaxies to as many as 10,000.
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