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Earth is in the second largest galaxy of the Local Group - a galaxy called the Milky Way. The Milky Way is a large spiral galaxy. Earth is located in one of the spiral arms of the Milky Way (called the Orion Arm) which lies about two-thirds of the way out from the center of the galaxy.
Here we are part of the solar system - a group of nine planets, as well as numerous comets and asteroids which orbit the sun.
The Solar System has been measured to be about 28,000 light years from the center of the galaxy, and about 20 light years above the galaxy's equatorial plane.
The Milky Way Galaxy belongs to the Local Group, a smaller group of 3 large and over 30 small galaxies, and is the second largest (after the Andromeda Galaxy M31) but perhaps the most massive member of this group. M31, at about 2.9 million light years, is the nearest large galaxy, but a number of faint galaxies are much closer: Many of the dwarf Local Group members are satellites or companions of the Milky Way.
The two closest neighbors, both already mentioned, have only recently been discovered: The nearest of all, discovered in 2003, is an already almost disrupted dwarf galaxy, the Canis Major Dwarf, the nucleus of which is about 25,000 light-years away from us and about 45,000 light-years from the Galactic Center. Second comes SagDEG at about 88,000 light years from us and some 50,000 light years from the Galactic Center. These two dwarfs are currently in close encounters with our Galaxy and in sections of their orbits situated well within the volume ocupied by our Milky Way. They are followed in distance by the more conspicuous Large and Small Magellanic Cloud, at 179,000 and 210,000 light years, respectively.
Actually, there is no real 'center' of the universe that one can define since there is no tremendous difference in the cosmic microwave background radiation density throughout space. It basically means that aside from planets, stars, galaxies, etc. space is exactly the same (or close to it) at all spots in such a manner, no 'center' can be defined.
We only know our position relative to other galaxies, but we do not know how they are scattered relative to the universe as a whole.
Source(s):
http://messier.obspm.fr/more/mw.html
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allenatkin...
However as its confirmed that universe is expanding i can surely say , we are not there where we were when i answered this post.
Tags: universe, astronomy, earth, galaxy, size
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"Earth is located in the outer edge of our galaxy, called the Milky Way, about 28,000 light years from the galactic center. It is part of a Solar System that includes eight other known planets, and the only known planet with the ability to sustain life as we know it. The Milky Way is one of billions of spiral galaxies in the universe. (Image: NASA, Galaxy M83, similar size and shape to the Milky Way)"
-end of quote-
Source(s):
http://ecology.com/features/earthataglance/youarehere.html
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A lot closer to home - and better understood - is our Milky Way galaxy. All the stars you see in the night sky, plus more - about 200 billion in all-belong to the Milky Way. Clouds of dust and gas make up the rest of the galaxy. Like all galaxies, our Milky Way is always in motion, rotating its spiral arms.
Now we've zeroed in on the most familiar planet in the universe. What makes Earth such a home sweet home for life? First, Earth is the perfect distance from the Sun - 149.6 million km - so it's not too hot or too cold. Earth also has an atmosphere, a blanket of gases including nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. This atmosphere gives us the oxygen we need to live, and helps shield us from the Sun's radiation. And Earth is the only planet that has liquid water, vital for life.
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| October 29, 2009 10:32 AM |
Here we are part of the solar system - a group of nine planets, as well as numerous comets and asteroids which orbit the sun.
The Solar System has been measured to be about 28,000 light years from the center of the galaxy, and about 20 light years above the galaxy's equatorial plane.
The Milky Way Galaxy belongs to the Local Group, a smaller group of 3 large and over 30 small galaxies, and is the second largest (after the Andromeda Galaxy M31) but perhaps the most massive member of this group. M31, at about 2.9 million light years, is the nearest large galaxy, but a number of faint galaxies are much closer: Many of the dwarf Local Group members are satellites or companions of the Milky Way.
The two closest neighbors, both already mentioned, have only recently been discovered: The nearest of all, discovered in 2003, is an already almost disrupted dwarf galaxy, the Canis Major Dwarf, the nucleus of which is about 25,000 light-years away from us and about 45,000 light-years from the Galactic Center. Second comes SagDEG at about 88,000 light years from us and some 50,000 light years from the Galactic Center. These two dwarfs are currently in close encounters with our Galaxy and in sections of their orbits situated well within the volume ocupied by our Milky Way. They are followed in distance by the more conspicuous Large and Small Magellanic Cloud, at 179,000 and 210,000 light years, respectively.
Actually, there is no real 'center' of the universe that one can define since there is no tremendous difference in the cosmic microwave background radiation density throughout space. It basically means that aside from planets, stars, galaxies, etc. space is exactly the same (or close to it) at all spots in such a manner, no 'center' can be defined.
We only know our position relative to other galaxies, but we do not know how they are scattered relative to the universe as a whole.
Source(s):
http://messier.obspm.fr/more/mw.html
| Asker's Rating: |
• So what your saying is if their is no center their is no one point where the universe began. No big bang
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allenatkin...
October 30, 2009 01:12 AM
I guess what i should have asked was time and distance If the stars we see are light that has happened billions of years ago then from their perspective is the light from our galaxy billions of years old ? or is the light not viewable yet?
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October 29, 2009 11:34 AM
Nobody knows the size of universe . Its uncertain. so its very difficult to say where we are positioned in the universe as we say our position in our galaxy (milky way) . However as its confirmed that universe is expanding i can surely say , we are not there where we were when i answered this post.
Tags: universe, astronomy, earth, galaxy, size
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October 29, 2009 03:43 PM
-quote- "Earth is located in the outer edge of our galaxy, called the Milky Way, about 28,000 light years from the galactic center. It is part of a Solar System that includes eight other known planets, and the only known planet with the ability to sustain life as we know it. The Milky Way is one of billions of spiral galaxies in the universe. (Image: NASA, Galaxy M83, similar size and shape to the Milky Way)"
-end of quote-
Source(s):
http://ecology.com/features/earthataglance/youarehere.html
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October 31, 2009 06:00 AM
Scientists estimate that the edge of the universe may be 10 billion light-years away. (A light-year is the distance light travels in a year - 9.4 trillion km). But as vast as it is, the universe consists of just two simple things: matter, anything that contains atoms, and the energy that makes matter move. Some 10 percent of our universe's matter is clustered into 100 billion galaxies, very large groups of stars - some with orbiting planets. Scientists say the other 90 percent of our universe's matter is dark matter, invisible mass that scientists have not yet been able to detect. A lot closer to home - and better understood - is our Milky Way galaxy. All the stars you see in the night sky, plus more - about 200 billion in all-belong to the Milky Way. Clouds of dust and gas make up the rest of the galaxy. Like all galaxies, our Milky Way is always in motion, rotating its spiral arms.
Now we've zeroed in on the most familiar planet in the universe. What makes Earth such a home sweet home for life? First, Earth is the perfect distance from the Sun - 149.6 million km - so it's not too hot or too cold. Earth also has an atmosphere, a blanket of gases including nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. This atmosphere gives us the oxygen we need to live, and helps shield us from the Sun's radiation. And Earth is the only planet that has liquid water, vital for life.
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