The Milky Way
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy that contains the Solar System and a large population of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter. It is part of the Local Group of galaxies.
The Milky Way is discussed in galactic astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology.
Status
The Milky Way is studied through observation across the electromagnetic spectrum and through modeling of stellar populations and galactic structure. Its mass distribution, formation history, and large-scale dynamics remain active areas of research.