Galaxies
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to classify galaxies by morphology
- Students will be able to describe the structure and contents of galaxies
- Students will be able to understand distance measurements to distant galaxies
Core Concepts
- Galaxy types
- Milky Way structure
- Distance measurements
Formulas
$$v = H_0 d$$
Hubble's Law relating recession velocity to distance
Units
| Light-year | ly |
| Megaparsec | Mpc |
Interesting Fact
Most galaxies contain central supermassive black holes
Key Scientist
Harlow Shapley
Determined the structure and size of the Milky Way
Ancient Wisdom
Galaxies as divine creations feature in religious cosmologies; their vastness inspires awe and connects humans to something transcendent.
Want to truly master this? Try the interactive lesson!
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