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For example, the Milky Way galaxy has a supermassive black hole at its center, corresponding to the radio source Sagittarius A*. [7] [8] Accretion of interstellar gas onto supermassive black holes is the process responsible for powering active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and quasars .
The Local Group is the galaxy group that includes the Milky Way, where Earth is located. It has a total diameter of roughly 3 megaparsecs (10 million light-years; 9 × 10 19 kilometres ), [1] and a total mass of the order of 2 × 10 12 solar masses (4 × 10 42 kg). [2] It consists of two collections of galaxies in a " dumbbell " shape; the ...
A quasar ( / ˈkweɪzɑːr / KWAY-zar) is an extremely luminous active galactic nucleus (AGN). It is sometimes known as a quasi-stellar object, abbreviated QSO. The emission from an AGN is powered by a supermassive black hole with a mass ranging from millions to tens of billions of solar masses, surrounded by a gaseous accretion disc.
Alpha Centauri ( α Centauri, α Cen, or Alpha Cen) is a triple star system in the southern constellation of Centaurus. It consists of three stars: Rigil Kentaurus ( α Centauri A ), Toliman ( α Centauri B ), and Proxima Centauri ( α Centauri C ). [14] Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the Sun at 4.2465 light-years (1.3020 pc ).
At its height, the Galactic Empire spanned the entire Milky Way galaxy. The Galactic Empire is an interstellar empire featured in Isaac Asimov 's Robot, Galactic Empire, and Foundation series. The Empire is spread across the Milky Way galaxy and consists of almost 25 million planets [1] [2] settled exclusively by humans.
Virgo Supercluster. The Virgo Supercluster ( Virgo SC) or the Local Supercluster ( LSC or LS) was a formerly defined supercluster containing the Virgo Cluster and Local Group, which itself contains the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, as well as others. At least 100 galaxy groups and clusters are located within its diameter of 33 megaparsecs ...
VY Canis Majoris (abbreviated to VY CMa) is an extreme oxygen-rich red hypergiant or red supergiant (O-rich RHG or RSG) and pulsating variable star 1.2 kiloparsecs (3,900 light-years) from the Solar System in the slightly southern constellation of Canis Major.
Apparent size (V) 0.28′ × 0.28′ [1] Notable features. Ring galaxy. Other designations. PGC 54559, [1] PRC D-51 [1] Hoag's Object is an unusual ring galaxy in the constellation of Serpens Caput. [5] It is named after Arthur Hoag, who discovered it in 1950 and identified it as either a planetary nebula or a peculiar galaxy. [6]