01:750:109 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11.1: Globular Cluster, Galactic Center, Spiral Galaxy
Our Galaxy: The Milky Way
●We are "star stuff" but also "galaxy stuff": the product of eons of complex recycling and
reprocessing of matter and energy in the Milky Way Galaxy
What does our galaxy look like?
●Cant precisely describe because trying to determine its true size and shape is somewhat like
trying to draw a picture of your house without ever leaving your bedroom
Structure of the Milky Way
●Spiral galaxy
bc of the spiral arms that would be visible in a face-on view
●From the side, the spiral arms blend into a thin disk that contains more than 100 billion stars
●Center of disk is the bulge
●Around the disk is the vast, roughly spherical halo
○Halo nearly invisible, except for its apprx 200 globular cluster of stars
●Disk about 100,000 ly in diameter but only about 1000 ly thick
