Galaxy Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-11-05
A galaxy is a gravitationally bound system of stars, stellar remnants and usually gas, interstellar dust and a substantial dark matter component. Its appearance reflects both its contents and their motion: a spiral galaxy has a rotating galactic disk, whereas an elliptical galaxy is largely supported by disordered stellar motion. Star formation makes luminous young populations from gas, while stellar feedback returns material and energy to the interstellar medium. A photograph therefore samples only part of the system: galaxy dynamics uses motions to constrain the underlying mass, including matter that emits little light. Spiral arms also redistribute angular momentum and changes the galactic disk over time.[ref]