Does anybody know the dimensions of the Milky Way galaxy?

Question

Any help would be appreciated. THANKS!!

Answer 1

The exact answer is difficult to determine because our solar system is inside the disk of the galaxy -------- and we cannot directly observe parts of the Milky Way or even the entire center --------- so astronomers must estimate the size------ they have at about 100,000 light years in diameter. See this NASA article:
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/980317b.html

Answer 2

The milky way is a very large band of stars having a misty cloud like appearance, extending itself across the sky like a part of a great circle.It is thicker in the middle and thins out at the edges.The diameter of the milky way is 100000 light years.The sun which belongs to this galaxy is situated in its central plane at a distance of 27000 light years from the centre.The thickness of the disk is about 5000 light years at the centre and about 1000 light years near the sun and diminishes as we reach the edges.There are about 150 billion stars in the milky way.

Answer 3

The disk of the Milky Way galaxy is approximately 100,000 light years in diameter, and about 1,000 light years thick.

It is estimated to contain 200 billion, and up to 400 billion, stars (if small-mass stars predominate).

Answer 4

Hi. From the web. ". The extent of the halo is not well determined, but globular clusters with distances of about 40 kpc from the center have been identified."

There are different sections. http://www.answers.com/Milky+Way+galaxy?cat=technology&gwp=13

Answer 5

It's about 100,000 lightyears in diameter, and and about 15,000 lightyears thick in the center bulge. Out where we are (we're about 30,000 light years out from the center) it's about 1000 - 1500 lightyears thick.