7 Mind-Altering Facts About The Milky Way Galaxy: Our Galactic Home

According to the best estimates by astronomers from around the world, there are at least one hundred billion galaxies in the observable universe. As for the parts of the universe we can’t see? Who knows. Within these billions (if not trillions) of galaxies are billions (if not trillions) of stars… Quite mind-altering, isn’t it? It is literally beyond our ability to comprehend.

1. New research coming from a team of international scientists led by Professor Heidi Jo Newberg of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute suggests that the Milky Way Galaxy is at least 50 percent larger than what is commonly believed. These estimates are based on new findings that reveal our galaxy is contoured into multiple concentric ripples. This means that the Milky Way Galaxy is not 100,000 light years across, but at least 150,000 light years across. (source)