
Galaxy - Wikipedia
A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity. [1][2] The word is derived from the Greek galaxias (γαλαξίας), literally 'milky', a reference to …
Galaxies - NASA Science
May 2, 2025 · Galaxies consist of stars, planets, and vast clouds of gas and dust, all bound together by gravity. The largest contain trillions of stars and can be more than a million light-years across. The …
Galaxy | Definition, Formation, Types, Properties, & Facts | Britannica
Nov 27, 2025 · The existence of galaxies was not recognized until the early 20th century. Since then, however, galaxies have become one of the focal points of astronomical investigation. The notable …
Galaxies—facts and information | National Geographic
Galaxies are sprawling systems of dust, gas, dark matter, and anywhere from a million to a trillion stars that are held together by gravity. Nearly all large galaxies are thought to also contain...
What is a Galaxy? - sciencenewstoday.org
Mar 19, 2025 · Galaxies are the grand islands of the universe, each one a vast metropolis of stars, gas, dust, dark matter, and endless possibility. From tiny dwarfs to sprawling giants, galaxies tell the story …
What Is a Galaxy? - Scientific American
May 9, 2025 · Huge clouds of invisible dark matter accumulated regular matter (in the form of gas) via gravity, which eventually collapsed to form galaxies and the stars in them.
What is a galaxy? - BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Jan 18, 2024 · Galaxies are among the largest and most beautiful objects in the night sky. These huge swirling masses are where almost every star in the Universe is born, lives and dies.
20: Galaxies - Physics LibreTexts
In this chapter, we start our exploration of the vast realm of galaxies. Like tourists from a small town making their first visit to the great cities of the world, we will be awed by the beauty and variety of the …
What Is a Galaxy? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
Sep 25, 2025 · The Hubble Space Telescope looked at a small patch of space for 12 days and found 10,000 galaxies, of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Some scientists think there could be as many as …
Galaxies | NASA's UoL
Galaxies are vast cosmic islands of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter held together by gravity. NASA’s space telescopes have revealed intricate details of the shapes, structures, and histories of galaxies …