Determining the Milky Way’s size is challenging because we’re inside it. Estimates have varied greatly, from 100,000 to 1.9 million light years in diameter. Studying the Milky Way involves accounting for dark matter’s gravitational effects since it comprises most of the galaxy’s mass but remains invisible.
Related Posts
Invisible “Monster” Black Hole Racing Through Space Leaves 200,000-Light-Year-Long Trail of Newborn Stars
NASA‘s Hubble Space Telescope has captured an unusual trail of newborn stars left by a supermassive black hole…
Curious Kids: What does the edge of the universe look like?
Greg Rakozy/Shutterstock Sara Webb, Swinburne University of Technology What does the edge of the universe look like? Lily,…
The total solar eclipse is a cosmic spectacle well worth the hype
A composite photograph of the solar eclipse on Dec. 26, 2019 in Liwa, United Arab Emirates. (Abed Ismail/Unsplash)…
Astronomers Uncover Earth-like Exoplanet 40 Light-Years Away, Hinting at Potential Habitability
At a Glance Astronomers have recently made a groundbreaking discovery of an exoplanet 40 light-years away, Gliese 12…