Star Systems and Galaxies

star system

a grouping of two or more stars

binary stars

two stars within the same star system; other wise known as double stars

eclipsing binary stars

two stars within the same star system; one blocks the light of the other periodically

open cluster

a star cluster with a loose, disorganized appearance; no more than a few thousand stars

globular cluster

a large grouping of older stars; may contain over one million stars

galaxy

a large collection of singular stars, star systems, star clusters, dust and gas bound together by gravity

spiral galaxy

a galaxy with a bulge at its center and arms spiraling outwards from that bulge; similar to a pinwheel

elliptical galaxy

a galaxy that looks like a round or flattened ball

irregular galaxy

a galaxy with no definitive, regular shape

quasar

a young galaxy with a large black hole at its center

Milky Way

a spiral galaxy; the galaxy that we live in