If the Universe is infinite (and that is only a theory), how many galaxies exist within it? Galaxies extend beyond our solar system, the Moon beyond the Sun and other planets. The structure of galaxies has intrigued astronomers for centuries, and our understanding continues to grow as new galaxies are discovered.
Because our understanding of the Universe is still evolving, providing a precise count of galaxies remains challenging. Nevertheless, scientists have persevered in their efforts, and we now have a reasonable estimate.
How many galaxies in the Universe? Scientists have a rough idea
When it comes to estimating the number of galaxies, the method is surprisingly simple… For science stuff, that is. Recent estimates suggest that there could be up to two trillion galaxies in the observable Universe.
However, scientists didn’t count each one individually. What they did is they examined tiny portions of the Universe at a time, like looking at a pinhead held at arm’s length. They then counted how many galaxies were in those sections.
This method provided a “lower limit” estimate of 100-200 billion galaxies in the observable Universe. The number is extremely conservative because there are many galaxies beyond those we can see.
So, where does the “two trillion” estimate come from? It comes from converting images from the Hubble Space Telescope into 3D and using new mathematical models.
This work would suggest that approximately 90% of galaxies in the Universe are too faint and distant to be seen with current telescopes (terrestrial or space-bound). In theory, there could well be an infinite number of galaxies, because the Universe itself may be infinite in size.
What Is The Biggest Galaxy In The Universe?
The largest galaxy we know of is the ESO 383-76 supergiant elliptical galaxy, which spans about 1,764,000 light-years in diameter. It’s situated in the Centaurus Constellation, roughly 654 million light-years from Earth.
It’s tricky to definitively identify the largest galaxy though because our understanding of space is constantly growing. This is no small part thanks to technologies like the James Webb Space Telescope. Other galaxies have been suggested as the largest, such as IC 1101 and Alcyoneus. The biggest spiral galaxy we’ve identified is UGC 2885.
When we look at the largest barred spiral galaxy, we find NGC 6872, otherwise known as the Condor Galaxy. It stretches approximately 522,000 light-years across from one end to the other, which is more than five times the size of our Milky Way.
The Condor Galaxy resides in the Pavo Constellation, approximately 212 million light-years away from Earth. Its total diameter, including the “arms,” spans about 522,000 light-years, with an isophotal diameter of roughly 717,000 light-years.
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