Quick Read

The Milky Way is the galaxy containing our Solar System and an enormous number of stars.

Learn More

It is a barred spiral galaxy. Its stars, gas, dust, and surrounding halo do not end at one sharp boundary.

In Depth

The plotted value is a provisional order-of-magnitude extent, not a final diameter. Different components and definitions produce different estimates.

Scale measurement

105,700 ly · diameter

Quick facts

  • Category: galaxy
  • Boundary: diffuse and definition-dependent
  • Scientific review: pending

Related objects

Sources and review