Hey there! We’ve talked a lot about space before, haven’t we? We’ve learned about stars, comets, and asteroids, and we can even name all eight planets in our solar system! But have you ever wondered what’s beyond our solar system?
The Sun, which is just a star, and all the planets in our solar system are part of something much bigger called a galaxy. A galaxy is a huge collection of stars clustered together in space. Our galaxy is called the Milky Way, and it’s packed with stars!
How many stars, you ask? Well, imagine a thousand. Now multiply that by a thousand, and then multiply it by a thousand again. That number is a billion, and there are billions of stars just in the Milky Way alone! Scientists believe that many of these stars might have their own planets too.
The Milky Way isn’t the only galaxy out there. Astronomers, who study space, have found many other galaxies. To make it easier to study them, astronomers group galaxies into three main types based on their shapes: spiral galaxies, elliptical galaxies, and irregular galaxies.
Spiral galaxies look like pinwheels. They have lines of stars that curl outward, called spiral arms. Our Milky Way is a spiral galaxy! Some spiral galaxies are flat like a pancake, but others, like the Milky Way, have a big bulge in the middle made of older stars. Younger stars are often found in the spiral arms. If you could look at the Milky Way from above, you’d find our Sun near the middle of one of these arms.
Elliptical galaxies are shaped like an egg. They are mostly made up of older stars, and the stars are packed closely together, making the center look like one big, bright star.
Irregular galaxies don’t have a regular shape. They can look like anything! These galaxies are clusters of stars that form all kinds of different shapes.
There are so many galaxies out there, and scientists are discovering new ones all the time. So, the next time you look up at the night sky, remember that you, the Earth, and our whole solar system are part of something much bigger—a galaxy!
Thanks for joining us today! If you have any questions about space, the Earth, or anything else, ask a grown-up to help you leave a comment or send us an email at [email protected].
Create Your Own Galaxy: Gather some art supplies like colored paper, glitter, and markers. Imagine what your own galaxy would look like. Would it be a spiral, elliptical, or irregular galaxy? Use the supplies to create a picture of your galaxy. Think about what colors you would use and how many stars it might have. Once you’re done, share your galaxy with a friend or family member and explain why you chose that shape and design.
Star Counting Game: On a clear night, go outside with a grown-up and look up at the sky. Try to count how many stars you can see. Remember, there are billions of stars in the Milky Way, but we can only see a few thousand with our eyes. After counting, talk about why we can’t see all the stars and how telescopes help astronomers see more of them.
Galaxy Shape Hunt: Look around your home or neighborhood for objects that remind you of the shapes of different galaxies. Can you find something that looks like a spiral, an egg, or something irregular? Take pictures or draw what you find and label them with the type of galaxy they resemble. Discuss with someone how these shapes are similar to galaxies in space.
