Expert: Jayendra Upadhye - 2/21/2005

Question
My son is doing a project about the galaxy and the Milky Way.

We've been doing a lot of reasearch, but haven't been really able to answer this question.

How is the Milky Way different than other galaxies?

Also, do you have any ideas on how to do a diorama or mobile?  Thank you.

Answer
Karen,
Here is an excellent site that will help your son to build a diorama or mobile.
the site is :-
http://www.mckinneyisd.net/Campuses/school_websites/walker/Library/Project_ideas...

Regarding the milky way being different from other galaxies, sadly we are NO different.

The milky way is just the run of the mill average spiral galaxy like our companion in the "local group" of galaxies.
Our companion is just like us, and is known as the andromeda galaxy M31 (NUMBERED 31 in the messier catalog of celestial objects, compiled by the astronomer Messier).

Just as we have two satellite galaxies (the large and small magellanic clouds), M31 too has its satellite galaxies.

The Local group is headed towards the Virgo Super Cluster of galaxies, a group of reasonably bright specks seen by the naked eye, in the constellation Virgo, on moonless nights. Each speck is a galaxy.

The only trivial difference is that THIS one is our home the others are just distant objects for us! :)

Pls do rate the answer if it has been of help.
Jayen