Exploring the Milky Way Galaxy
A Journey Through Our Galactic
Home
Presenter Name | Date
What is the Milky Way?
• • A barred spiral galaxy
• • Contains our Solar System
• • One of billions in the universe
Milky Way Quick Facts
• • Estimated 100–400 billion stars
• • Diameter: ~100,000 light-years
• • Age: ~13.6 billion years
Structure of the Milky Way
• • Central bulge
• • Spiral arms
• • Galactic halo
• • Dark matter envelope
The Galactic Center
• • Supermassive black hole: Sagittarius A*
• • Extremely dense star region
• • Emits X-rays and radio waves
Spiral Arms
• • Home to young stars and nebulae
• • Four main arms: Perseus, Sagittarius,
Centaurus, and Norma
• • Site of active star formation
Our Location in the Milky Way
• • Solar System is in the Orion Arm
• • About 27,000 light-years from the center
• • Orbiting at 828,000 km/h
Composition of the Galaxy
• • 90% dark matter
• • 9% stars and stellar remnants
• • 1% interstellar gas and dust
Stars in the Milky Way
• • Various types: main-sequence, giants,
dwarfs
• • Lifespan depends on mass
• • Some stars have planetary systems
Nebulae and Star Formation
• • Birthplaces of stars
• • Examples: Eagle Nebula, Orion Nebula
• • Formed from gas and dust clouds
Stellar Evolution
• • Star life stages: Protostar → Main Sequence
→ Giant → Remnant
• • End as white dwarf, neutron star, or black
hole
Black Holes in the Milky Way
• • Many stellar black holes
• • Sagittarius A* at the center (~4 million solar
masses)
Dark Matter and Halo
• • Invisible matter
• • Provides extra mass to hold galaxy together
• • Detected by gravitational effects
Motion of the Milky Way
• • Rotates on its axis
• • Orbiting the Local Group center of mass
• • Moving toward the Andromeda Galaxy
The Milky Way and Other Galaxies
• • Part of the Local Group
• • Neighboring galaxies: Andromeda,
Triangulum, Magellanic Clouds
Andromeda Collision
• • Will collide with Andromeda in ~4.5 billion
years
• • Merger will form a new galaxy: Milkomeda
Studying the Milky Way
• • Telescopes: optical, radio, X-ray
• • Space missions: GAIA, Hubble, JWST
• • Mapping stars and galactic structure
Mysteries of the Milky Way
• • Nature of dark matter
• • Formation history
• • Unseen planets and exoplanets
Why It Matters
• • Understanding our origins
• • Clues about life beyond Earth
• • Fundamental to astrophysics
Thank You / Q&A
• • Questions?
• • Contact info / further reading suggestions

Milky_Way_Galaxy_20 slides Presentation.pptx

  • 1.
    Exploring the MilkyWay Galaxy A Journey Through Our Galactic Home Presenter Name | Date
  • 2.
    What is theMilky Way? • • A barred spiral galaxy • • Contains our Solar System • • One of billions in the universe
  • 3.
    Milky Way QuickFacts • • Estimated 100–400 billion stars • • Diameter: ~100,000 light-years • • Age: ~13.6 billion years
  • 4.
    Structure of theMilky Way • • Central bulge • • Spiral arms • • Galactic halo • • Dark matter envelope
  • 5.
    The Galactic Center •• Supermassive black hole: Sagittarius A* • • Extremely dense star region • • Emits X-rays and radio waves
  • 6.
    Spiral Arms • •Home to young stars and nebulae • • Four main arms: Perseus, Sagittarius, Centaurus, and Norma • • Site of active star formation
  • 7.
    Our Location inthe Milky Way • • Solar System is in the Orion Arm • • About 27,000 light-years from the center • • Orbiting at 828,000 km/h
  • 8.
    Composition of theGalaxy • • 90% dark matter • • 9% stars and stellar remnants • • 1% interstellar gas and dust
  • 9.
    Stars in theMilky Way • • Various types: main-sequence, giants, dwarfs • • Lifespan depends on mass • • Some stars have planetary systems
  • 10.
    Nebulae and StarFormation • • Birthplaces of stars • • Examples: Eagle Nebula, Orion Nebula • • Formed from gas and dust clouds
  • 11.
    Stellar Evolution • •Star life stages: Protostar → Main Sequence → Giant → Remnant • • End as white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole
  • 12.
    Black Holes inthe Milky Way • • Many stellar black holes • • Sagittarius A* at the center (~4 million solar masses)
  • 13.
    Dark Matter andHalo • • Invisible matter • • Provides extra mass to hold galaxy together • • Detected by gravitational effects
  • 14.
    Motion of theMilky Way • • Rotates on its axis • • Orbiting the Local Group center of mass • • Moving toward the Andromeda Galaxy
  • 15.
    The Milky Wayand Other Galaxies • • Part of the Local Group • • Neighboring galaxies: Andromeda, Triangulum, Magellanic Clouds
  • 16.
    Andromeda Collision • •Will collide with Andromeda in ~4.5 billion years • • Merger will form a new galaxy: Milkomeda
  • 17.
    Studying the MilkyWay • • Telescopes: optical, radio, X-ray • • Space missions: GAIA, Hubble, JWST • • Mapping stars and galactic structure
  • 18.
    Mysteries of theMilky Way • • Nature of dark matter • • Formation history • • Unseen planets and exoplanets
  • 19.
    Why It Matters •• Understanding our origins • • Clues about life beyond Earth • • Fundamental to astrophysics
  • 20.
    Thank You /Q&A • • Questions? • • Contact info / further reading suggestions