FratFiles

• Save Paper

A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system consisting of stars, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and dark matter. The name is from the Greek root galaxias [γαλαξίας], meaning "milky," a reference to the Milky Way galaxy. Typical galaxies range from dwarfs with as few as ten million (107) stars up to giants with one trillion (1012) stars, all orbiting a common center of mass. Galaxies can also contain many multiple star systems, star clusters, and various interstellar clouds. The Sun is one of the stars in the Milky Way galaxy; the Solar System includes the Earth and all the other objects that orbit the Sun.

Historically, galaxies have been categorized according to their apparent shape (usually referred to as their visual morphology). A common form is the elliptical galaxy, which has an ellipse-shaped light profile. Spiral galaxies are disk-shaped assemblages with curving, dusty arms. Galaxies with irregular or unusual shapes are known as peculiar galaxies,......

View the rest of this paper...

Approximate Word Count: 380
Approximate Pages: 2 (250 words per double-spaced page)

Similar Essays

1. Galaxy
   

   Galaxy A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system consisting of stars, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and dark matter. The name is from the Greek root galaxias

2. The Andromeda Galaxy
   

   The Andromeda Galaxy The Andromeda Galaxy Introduction/Abstract The Andromeda galaxy is the closest full size galaxy to the Milky Way because of this it is known as our nearest

3. Galaxy Science Centre (Gsc)
   

   Galaxy Science Centre (Gsc) Executive summary Capital Budgeting encourages managers to accurately manage and control their capital expenditure. By providing powerful reporting and

4. Andromeda Galazy
   

   Andromeda Galazy Andromeda Galaxy The Andromeda galaxy (also known as M31) can easily be spotted by the naked eye, appearing to be no more than a "smudge of light" it is in fact

5. Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy And The Seven Deadly Sins
   

   Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the Seven Deadly Sins In Douglas Adams's novel, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect traverse an imperfect