1. 1 Our Place in Our Galaxy

2. 2 Solar System

3. 3 MILKY WAY

4. 4 What’s the Difference? Universe Galaxy Image credits: NASA, STScI Solar System

5. 5 What’s the Difference? Universe Galaxy Solar System

6. 6 Where is our Solar System? Visible stars, gas, dust in the Milky Way Galaxy Image credits: NASA, STScI Solar System here

7. 7 How big is the Milky Way Galaxy? 100,000 light years Image credits: NASA, STScI

8. 8 How far is 100,000 light years? Consider this scale: 1 inch represents 5.5 light hours (Sun to Pluto) 1 mile represents 40 light years 2,500 miles represents 100,000 light years

9. 9 2,500 miles Continent of North America!

10. 10

11. 11 And how thick is our Galaxy? Credit: NASA, COsmic Background Explorer (COBE) Project ~1000 light years

12. 12 How thick is 1,000 light years? If 2,500 miles represents 100,000 light years 25 miles represents 1,000 light years

13. 13 200 BILLION Stars!!! How many stars in Milky Way?

14. 14 Fill with bird seed 4 feet deep on a football field 200 BILLION Stars!!!

15. 15 2,500 miles Spread them over the continent 25 miles deep!

16. 16 Solar System here