our home galaxy
Type
Barred spiral galaxy
Diameter
87,400 ± 3,600 light-years
Thickness
4,000 light-years
Dark matter halo
952,000 ± 199,000 light-years
Mass
1.29 × 10¹² solar masses (2019)
Stars
100–400 billion
Planets
100–400 billion (≥1 per star)
White dwarfs
~10 billion
Neutron stars
~1 billion
Stellar black holes
~100 million
Solar System distance
27,000 light-years from center
Solar System location
Inner edge of Orion Arm
Central black hole
Sagittarius A*
Black hole mass
4.1–4.5 million solar masses
Galactic year
240 million years
Sun orbital speed
~220 km/s
Local Group
Member galaxy
Supercluster
Laniakea