Astronomers in different studies over the years have found various results for the mass of the Milky Way galaxy. Now, in a new study, researchers have estimated that the galaxy is about 890 billion solar masses.

A solar mass is equivalent to the mass of the Sun. Hence, the Milky Way galaxy that Earth and our solar system are part of, weighs as much as 890 billion Suns. The new study also estimated the diameter of our galaxy at approximately 256,000 light-years. Previous studies have put the diameter between 150,000 and 200,000 light-years while the mass of Milky Way galaxy was recently estimated to be 1.5 trillion solar masses.

The differences in estimations of the parameters that describe the Milky Way galaxy are seen due to the difference in methods. Astronomers weigh galaxies by observing the movement of stars and other galactic bodies under the influence of gravity to estimate the mass of galaxies. Also, there are limitations to observing the Milky Way galaxy as the Earth resides within it, making it difficult to peer through galactic dust to observe the whole galaxy.

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The researchers in their study, available on arXiv, compiled data from multiple sources to create a mass model that described the rotation curve of the Milky Way galaxy. They found that the galaxy was not rotating uniformly about its center. Co-author Fabio Iocco explained to Live Science, "Objects at different distances from the center of the galaxy go around that center at different speeds."

Researchers explained that spinning forces with which objects move are balanced by the gravitational forces to maintain balance and keep the galaxy from collapsing. They also used this force to get a mass distribution sheet of the galaxy. Taking dark matter into account, researchers estimated the Milky Way's mass to be 890 billion solar masses where about 830 billion solar masses were contributed by dark matter.

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Image Credit: NASA