Galaxy Facts for Kids
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If you look up at the night sky, you’ll likely see a stunning array of stars shining brightly. But have you ever wondered about the countless galaxies beyond our own Milky Way? Here are some fun galaxy facts for kids to help you understand the vastness and wonder of the universe.
What is a Galaxy?
A galaxy is a huge collection of stars, planets, gas, and dust that is held together by gravity. Most galaxies have a distinct shape, such as a spiral, elliptical, or irregular shape. Our Milky Way galaxy, for example, is a spiral galaxy with a central bulge and long, spiraling arms.
How Many Galaxies are There?
There are estimated to be more than 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe, each containing billions or even trillions of stars!
What is the Largest and Smallest Galaxy?
The largest known galaxy is IC 1101, which is located in the Abell 2029 galaxy cluster and contains over 100 trillion stars. The smallest known galaxy is Segue 2, which is located near the Milky Way and contains only about 1,000 stars.
How Old are Galaxies?
Galaxies formed early in the history of the universe, about 13.7 billion years ago. The earliest galaxies were small and irregularly shaped, but over time they grew and evolved into the familiar spiral and elliptical shapes we see today.
What is a Supermassive Black Hole?
A supermassive black hole is a region of space where the gravity is so strong that not even light can escape. Most galaxies, including our own Milky Way, are thought to have a supermassive black hole at their center.
What is a Nebula?
A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust that is the birthplace of stars. These clouds can be many light-years across and can contain thousands of stars forming at the same time.
What is a Galaxy Cluster?
A galaxy cluster is a group of galaxies that are held together by gravity. The largest known galaxy cluster is the Coma Cluster, which contains over 10,000 galaxies.
What is the Largest Known Structure in the Universe?
The largest known structure in the universe is the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall, which is a massive cluster of galaxies that is over 10 billion light-years away from Earth.