A galaxy is made up of stars, planets and other elements.
A galaxy is an element of considerable size that is composed of a number of stars , planets , interstellar dust, gases and particles subject to variations . The notion has its origin in the Latin galaxĭas which, in turn, comes from a term of Greek origin, according to the detail disclosed in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) ,
Within galaxies, multiple structures can be recognized, among which multiple star systems , nebulae and star clusters appear. From Earth , all those stars that are visible without the need to observe them with special equipment make up our own galaxy, which is known as the Milky Way .
The Milky Way, our galaxy
The Milky Way belongs to a group of around forty galaxies called the Local Group . It has a mass of 1012 solar masses and an average diameter of about 100,000 light years. Experts estimate that our galaxy contains approximately 200,000 to 400,000 million stars.
The stars that nucleate within a given galaxy establish a gravitational interaction and orbit around a common center. In the case of the Milky Way, the central axis is the sun.
Classification according to shape
It should also be noted that galaxies can vary in shape. In this way, irregular galaxies (which reflect perturbations generated from the gravitational attraction of other nearby galaxies), elliptical galaxies (with an ellipse appearance) and spiral galaxies (with a circular structure and curved arms wrapped in dust) can be recognized. ), For example.
Intergalactic space , on the other hand, is made up of a gas that has an average density of less than one atom per cubic meter. In general, galaxies present various aggregates (known as clusters ) which, in turn, have the capacity to develop other larger aggregates (called superclusters ).
Galaxies can have different shapes.
Operation Galaxy
The term galaxy has been and is fundamental not only in the astronomical field but in many others. Thus, for example, we can emphasize that historically it was part of the nomenclature, Operation Galaxy , under which an attempted coup plot in Spain in 1978 was hidden.
Specifically, the objective of this plan was to paralyze the political reforms that the then President of the Government ( Adolfo Suárez ) intended to undertake with the clear objective of betting forcefully on the establishment of democracy. Various members of the State Corps and Forces were those who planned said coup d'état, which was scheduled to take place on November 11, 1978 . However, it failed since some of those who attended the meeting to undertake it reported it to their superiors and it was aborted.
A cinema classic
In the same way, when talking about the galaxy it is inevitable to think about cinema because in this artistic field there is a saga that revolves around it and that has managed to become a true classic of the same. We are referring to the well-known "Star Wars" , which has the great George Lucas as scriptwriter and director.
Many fans around the world have this set of films, a trilogy and a subsequent trilogy that acts as a prequel, which revolves around the republic existing in a galaxy and the rebel movement that arises against it. All this having as protagonists already mythical characters in the history of cinema such as Princess Leia , Darth Vader or Han Solo .