Galaxies and the universe

Galaxies

A galaxy is a huge island of stars, gas, dust and dark matter held together by gravity. We live in one - the Milky Way - among hundreds of billions of others, each with its own shape and story.

Galaxies in real light

A faint band of stars arching across the night sky. — The Milky Way, our own galaxy, seen edge-on from inside. Credit: via Wikimedia Commons.

A vast spiral of stars seen at an angle, with a bright core. — Andromeda, our nearest large neighbour galaxy. Credit: Adam Evans (via Wikimedia Commons).

A bright elliptical galaxy with a faint jet. — M87, a giant elliptical galaxy with a supermassive black hole at its heart. Credit: NASA/ESA (via Wikimedia Commons).

Shapes of galaxies

Astronomers sort galaxies by shape: graceful spirals, rounded ellipticals, and ragged irregulars.

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