Galaxies are vast collections of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, and they can be categorized into three main types:
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Spiral Galaxies: These galaxies have a flat, rotating disk containing stars, gas, and dust, as well as a central concentration of stars known as the bulge. They are characterized by their spiral arms that extend outward from the center. Examples include the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy.
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Elliptical Galaxies: These galaxies vary in shape from nearly spherical to elongated ellipsoids. They generally have older stars and little interstellar gas and dust, which means they have less star formation compared to spiral galaxies. They range from dwarf ellipticals to giant ellipticals.
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Irregular Galaxies: These galaxies do not fit into the spiral or elliptical categories and have an irregular shape. They may contain a significant amount of gas and dust, and often show ongoing star formation. Their structure is influenced by interactions with other galaxies.
The galaxy that Earth is part of is called the Milky Way Galaxy, and it is classified as a spiral galaxy.