Physical Science:

The Milky Way [Figure 14.1.1.(b)] is a barred spiral galaxy, which has a central bar-shaped structure and spiral arms that wrap around it. It is estimated to be about 13.6 billion years old and is located about 25,000 light-years from the galactic center. The Milky Way contains hundreds of billions of stars, as well as numerous other celestial objects, such as planets, nebulae, and black holes. The Milky Way’s spiral arms are thought to be sites of ongoing star formation, and it is believed that many of the elements that make up our solar system and our bodies were created in these stars. The Milky Way also contains a supermassive black hole at its center, which is surrounded by a region of intense radiation known as the galactic bulge. Our solar system is located in one of the Milky Way’s spiral arms, and as a result, our view of the galaxy is heavily obscured by dust and gas.

The Milky Way is a relatively large galaxy, with a diameter of about 100,000 light-years and a mass of approximately 1 trillion times that of our sun. The Milky Way is home to many important celestial objects such as the galactic center, which is a region of intense radiation and contains a supermassive black hole. The Milky Way’s disk is also surrounded by a halo of dark matter, which is an invisible form of matter (Dark Matter) that can only be detected through its gravitational effects on visible matter. The Milky Way is part of a larger group of galaxies known as the Local Group, which also includes the Andromeda galaxy and several other smaller galaxies. The Milky Way is also home to numerous open and globular clusters, which are groups of stars that are held together by their mutual gravitational attraction.