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What is a galaxy?

A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system consisting of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter, all bound together by gravity. Galaxies come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from small dwarf galaxies with a few billion stars to large spiral and elliptical galaxies containing hundreds of billions or even trillions of stars.

Stars within a galaxy are typically organized into various structures, such as spiral arms, a central bulge, and a disk. Galaxies can be categorized into different types based on their overall structure, including spiral galaxies, elliptical galaxies, and irregular galaxies.

Our own Milky Way is an example of a spiral galaxy. Galaxies can also interact with each other, leading to gravitational interactions, mergers, and the formation of new structures. The study of galaxies, known as galactic astronomy, is an important field in astrophysics, helping scientists understand the large-scale structure and evolution of the universe.

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