Distance to the galactic centre
This is the distance from the Solar System to the centre of the Milky Way galaxy.
How big is it?
7.972 kpc away
Distance · rounded reference
A little perspective
Milky Way is about 3.85 times larger on this measurement.
Milky Way: The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy containing hundreds of billions of stars, including our Solar System.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Distance to the galactic centre
A rounded 26,000 light-year reference from the Solar System to the Milky Way’s centre.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked distance is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Milky Way
A rounded 100,000 light-year span of the stellar disk. Faint stars and the dark-matter halo extend farther; galaxies have no crisp rim.
The marked diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 7.972 kpc
For comparison, this page uses distance. This is labelled rounded reference: an explicit comparison model rather than a claim that every example has the same value.
A rounded 26,000 light-year reference from the Solar System to the Milky Way’s centre.
The marked horizontal span follows the named feature; transparent margins and unmeasured details do not alter it. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Distance to the galactic centre dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.972 kpc | Not recorded | rounded reference |
Around this scale
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Sources and method
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The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
SpaceEarth–Sun distance1 AUThe Earth–Sun distance, or astronomical unit, is the standard measure of separation between Earth and the Sun used in astronomy.
SpaceMilky Way30.66 kpcThe Milky Way is a spiral galaxy containing hundreds of billions of stars, including our Solar System.
SpaceObservable universe28.21 GpcThe observable universe is the region from which light or other signals have had time to reach us since the early universe.SpaceAndromeda galaxy79.72 kpcThe Andromeda galaxy, also called M31, is the nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.SpaceDistance to Andromeda766.5 kpcThis is the distance between the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy, our nearest large galactic neighbour.
SpaceLocal Group3.066 MpcThe Local Group is a collection of galaxies that includes the Milky Way, Andromeda, and several smaller galaxies.
SpaceDistance to the Virgo Cluster16.56 MpcThis is the distance from the Milky Way to the Virgo Cluster, a nearby large cluster of galaxies.SpaceDistance to Sirius8.6 lyThis is the distance from the Sun to Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.