🌌 Milky Way

About The Milky Way

The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy that contains our Solar System. It's home to an estimated 100-400 billion stars and at least that many planets.

🌟 Key Facts

• Type: Barred spiral galaxy
• Diameter: 100,000–200,000 light-years
• Stars: 100–400 billion
• Age: 13.6 billion years
• Center: Sagittarius A* supermassive black hole
• Our Position: 26,000 light-years from center
• Spiral Arms: 4 major arms

💡 Interesting Facts

• Sun takes 225-250 million years to orbit the galaxy once
• Will collide with Andromeda galaxy in 4.5 billion years
• Part of the Local Group (50+ galaxies)
• Most mass is invisible dark matter
• Name comes from its milky appearance in night sky
• Visible as luminous band from dark locations
• Contains billions of planetary systems