The Milky Way
⭐ MasteredThe Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our solar system. It is a huge spiral of billions of stars, gas and dust, and we see it as a band of light across the night sky.
Our solar system is about 26,000 light-years from the centre of the Milky Way.
All about The Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our solar system. It is a huge spiral of billions of stars, gas and dust, seen as a band of light across the night sky.
From Earth, we see it as a faint, milky band stretching across the night sky, because we are looking into the disc of our galaxy.
The Milky Way is so big that light takes around 100,000 years to cross it. Our Sun is one star among billions, located on one of its spiral arms. On a clear dark night, you can see the galaxy's glowing band with your own eyes.
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Real-life uses of The Milky Way
- Stargazing
- Learning about galaxies
- Astronomy photography
Frequently asked questions about The Milky Way
What is the Milky Way?
The galaxy that contains our solar system.
What do we see at night?
A band of light across the sky.