Shortcut Navigation:



  • Exhibition Text

    • Galaxies are the basic building blocks of the universe. Even in a tiny patch of sky, many hundreds can be seen. By surveying such regions, astronomers estimate that there may be 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe. These galaxies are not uniformly spread through space — they commonly occur in pairs, groups, clusters, and superclusters.

      Show more

In This Section

What is a galaxy?

What is a Galaxy?


Spiral Galaxies

Spiral Galaxies

Spiral galaxies have three visible parts: a thin disk composed of stars, gas, and dust; a central bulge of older stars; and a spherical halo of the oldest stars and massive star clusters.

Elliptical Galaxies

Elliptical Galaxies

Elliptical galaxies have smooth, rounded shapes because the orbits of their stars are oriented in all directions.

Other galaxy classifications_HERO

Other Galaxy Classifications


Interacting galaxies

Interacting Galaxies

Galaxies are grand yet fragile structures. When they pass close to each other or collide, their mutual gravity pulls them apart, twisting and distorting their shapes.

American Museum of Natural History

Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024-5192
Phone: 212-769-5100

Open daily from 10 am-5:45 pm
except on Thanksgiving and Christmas
Maps and Directions

Enlighten Your Inbox
