A
This is the gravitationally bound system that contains stars, gas, dust, and dark matter.
galaxy
This galaxy is home to our solar system.
Milky Way
This bright central region of a galaxy is often the most luminous part.
nucleus
This spherical structure in a galaxy is made of old stars and gas.
bulge
True or False: The solar system itself is considered a galaxy.
False
This type of galaxy has spiral arms and a rotating disk.
spiral galaxy
This type of galaxy is shaped like a sphere or cigar and lacks spiral arms.
elliptical galaxy
This type of galaxy has no distinct shape and is rich in gas and young stars.
irregular galaxy
The Milky Way is classified as this type of spiral galaxy.
barred spiral galaxy
True or False: Elliptical galaxies often form through collisions and mergers.
True
This flat rotating structure contains young stars, gas, and dust.
disk
This spherical region surrounds the disk and contains old stars or clusters.
halo
These curved extensions of stars and gas give spiral galaxies their pinwheel shape.
spiral arms
True or False: The halo of a galaxy contains mostly young stars.
False
This part of a galaxy is often the site of supermassive black holes.
nucleus
This galaxy group includes the Milky Way and Andromeda.
Local Group
This cluster contains up to 2000 galaxies, including the Local Group.
Virgo Cluster
This supercluster is also called the Local Supercluster.
Virgo Supercluster
This massive supercluster discovered in 2014 contains about 100,000 galaxies
Laniakea
True or False: Galaxy groups usually contain fewer than 50 galaxies.
True
This nearby galaxy is expected to collide with the Milky Way in 2–4 billion years.
Andromeda
True or False: Stars within galaxies frequently collide during galactic mergers.
False
This term describes the distorted shapes of galaxies caused by gravitational forces.
tidal interactions
Large galaxies often do this to smaller satellite galaxies.
engulf them
This process occurs when two galaxies combine to form a larger one.
galactic merger