Milky Way
The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy containing hundreds of billions of stars, including our Solar System.
Also known as: our galaxy
How big is it?
30.66 kpc across
Diameter · approximate
A little perspective
Andromeda galaxy is about 2.6 times larger on this measurement.
Andromeda galaxy: The Andromeda galaxy, also called M31, is the nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
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.
Andromeda galaxy
The 260,000 light-year extent is NASA’s ultraviolet-view reference. Diameters measured with another wavelength or brightness threshold differ.
The marked diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Change your perspective
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Choose a suggestion to redraw the comparison, or open its page to learn what it is.
Why this measurement?
Why we use 30.66 kpc
For comparison, this page uses diameter. This is labelled approximate; the central value is useful for comparison, while real values or measurement solutions can vary.
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 horizontal span follows the named feature; transparent margins and unmeasured details do not alter it. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Milky Way dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30.66 kpc | Not recorded | approximate |
Around this scale
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These links use compatible length records, ordered around the selected value.
Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- NASA — GalaxiesThe Milky Way stellar disk spans more than 100,000 light-years; 100,000 ly is our deliberately rounded scale anchor.
More ways to see it
Curated comparisons
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
SpaceSun1,391,000 kmThe Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System.
SpaceDistance to the galactic centre7.972 kpcThis is the distance from the Solar System to the centre of the Milky Way galaxy.
SpaceAndromeda galaxy79.72 kpcThe Andromeda galaxy, also called M31, is the nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.
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.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.
SpaceLaniakea-scale region159.4 MpcLaniakea is a vast region of interconnected galaxy clusters defined by shared gravitational flows.