The Synthesis of "Milky Way"

Discover our home, the Milky Way. Learn about the barred spiral galaxy containing our solar system, billions of stars, and a central black hole.

What is a galaxy? Discover these vast cosmic islands of stars, gas, and dark matter held together by gravity. Explore our own Milky Way and beyond.

Explore spiral galaxies, the stunning star cities with swirling arms that are home to stars like our sun. Learn why our own Milky Way fits this type.

Discover barred spiral galaxies, a common galaxy type featuring a central bar of stars. Learn how this structure, like our own Milky Way's, impacts star formation.

Discover the galactic bulge, the dense, star-packed heart of spiral galaxies like our Milky Way, and its connection to supermassive black holes.

Explore dwarf galaxies, the small, dim star systems that are key to understanding dark matter, cosmic evolution, and the formation of larger galaxies.

Discover the Local Group, our home galaxy cluster containing the Milky Way, Andromeda, and over 80 other gravitationally bound galaxies.

What does 'extragalactic' mean? Explore the science of everything that exists beyond the Milky Way, from nearby galaxies to distant quasars.

Explore globular clusters, ancient, dense balls of stars orbiting galaxies. Learn why these cosmic fossils are vital for understanding the universe.

Explore the cosmic spectacle of colliding galaxies, how they forge new stars, and the fate of our own Milky Way in its eventual merger.