Milky Way

The area of the galaxy that has the most dense stars surrounding a supermassive black hole.

• Halo region

• galactic bulge

• galactic disk

• spiral density arms

Globular clusters exist in this region just outside of the galaxy.

• Halo region

• galactic bulge

• galactic disk

• spiral density regions

Figuring out what the Milky Way looks like is difficult because

• we live outside of it.

• it is impossible to send a space probe that far.

• we live inside of it.

• it is full of dark matter.

These type of clusters with variable stars orbit the Milky Way and other galaxies.

• open clusters

• closed clusters

• globular clusters

• stellar associations

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Variable stars include short period RR Lyrae & longer period Cepheids.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Stars that are located in the galactic disk move

• in mostly random orbits.

• in retrograde orbits.

• in mostly stable or orderly orbits.

• around less massive black holes.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Stars that are located in the Halo regions of the galaxy orbit

• in random or disorderly motions.

• around black holes.

• in stable or orderly motions.

• in binary systems.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

Halo stars are very young and most likely formed before the Milky Way took shape.

• True

• False

Astronomers use the period-luminosity of variable stars to help

• determine the age of our galaxy.

• determine galactic distances.

• determine the size of our galaxy.

• discover supernovae.

According to the most recent survey of the galaxy's size, how big is the Milky Way?

• 100,000 parsecs in radius

• 100,000 light years in circumference

• 200,000 light years in diameter

• 200,000 parsecs in radius