BEYOND THE MILKY WAY

The exploration of the limits of our Milky Way and the cosmos involves understanding galaxies, which are collections of stars, gas, dust, and planets held together by gravitational forces. The observable universe is estimated to house around 2 trillion galaxies, although only a small fraction are visible to the naked eye. These galaxies come in various classes and sizes, such as satellite, spiral, irregular, and others, each distinguished by their unique structures. Ranging from 5 to 6 million light-years in diameter, galaxies are heavily influenced by dark matter in terms of their mass composition. One notable example is the Large Magellanic Cloud, a smaller galaxy compared to the Milky Way, containing approximately 30 billion stars. Within this galaxy lies the star WOH G64, one of the largest known stars, which is predicted to collide with our Milky Way in 2.4 billion years. As astronomers continue to search for the boundaries of the universe, they also seek to discover new Earth-like planets and potential life forms. Through historical breakthroughs, our understanding of the universe has evolved, leading to a deeper exploration of the origins of our world within the metagalaxy.

The meta galaxy likely began expanding immediately after its formation. Relic radiation sets a boundary to the observable universe, portraying space in its infancy. The debate over multiverse entities continues among scientists. Scientists hold varying views on the vastness of our universe. Some advocate for multi-dimensional realms and multi-universe hypotheses. The discovery of pulsars and their characteristics. Initially, pulsars were believed to be signals from extraterrestrial sources. Neutron stars emit narrow beams of radio waves. The identification of the first-millisecond optical pulsar with a rapid spin rate. J1023 plus double o 38 was detected in the 21st century and captured astronomers' interest in 2017. Pulsars are neutron stars with rotation periods ranging from 1 to 10 milliseconds, spinning much faster due to material from companion stars. Pulsar NGC 5907X1: An Ultra Bright X-ray Source. NGC 5907X1 releases energy equivalent to what the sun produces in three and a half years in one rotation period. Initially mistaken for black holes, it was revealed that ultra-bright X-ray sources could be pulsars like NGC 5907X1. Details of the Trappist-1 planetary system. Trappist-1 is a red dwarf star with 12.1% of the radius of our sun and 27,000 times the mass of Earth. The star has 0.08 times the mass of our sun and is nearly three billion years older than the sun. Planets in the Trappist-1 system contain substantial water and volatile elements, influencing their mass and potential for habitability. Three planets, d, e, and f, lie within the habitable zone. Trappist-1c has a higher mass possibly due to an iron-rich composition, challenging initial assumptions. The active flares of Trappist-1 impact the atmospheres of its planets.

Planets could potentially become uninhabitable due to radiation exposure. Planets G and H have the potential to maintain atmospheres despite being near active stars. Magnetars, which are neutron stars with incredibly powerful magnetic fields, form after a supernova event occurs under specific conditions. Theories propose that the formation of magnetars is a result of inner energy, rotational energy, or energy from accretion. These fast-spinning and dense objects emit high levels of magnetic radiation. The rapid spinning of magnetars dictates the direction of their fall, akin to a basketball spinning around the rim of a basket. Despite their small size, magnetars can be much heavier than our sun due to their remarkably dense interiors. Observing magnetars is challenging due to their small size and distance, but their active magnetic field emission and radiation can be detected. Regular amateur telescopes are not sufficient for observing magnetars, so infrared or x-ray scanning of the sky is typically used. In 2013, astronomers reported the discovery of a magnetar near a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. Magnetars can change categories and transform into different types of stars. The interaction between a black hole and a magnetar's magnetic or gravitational field can lead to changes in the magnetar's behavior. Magnetars can alter their category, exhibit more or fewer flares, and deplete their matter reserves, resulting in a shift from one category to another. The discovery and characteristics of the quasar known as tan 618.

Discovered in 1957 during the exploration of white dwarfs, initially causing puzzlement. Later identified as a quasar and the most luminous known to science, located 10.37 billion light years away. Ultra massive black holes in the universe. The black hole in the center of the tan 618 quasar is the heaviest in our galaxy at 66 billion times the sun's mass. Other ultra-massive black holes include the oj287 quasar, the black hole in the center of the Phoenix cluster, and the black hole in the galaxy ngc 1277. The Fermi Paradox questions the silence of the universe regarding advanced extraterrestrial life. Enrico Fermi, an Italian scientist, raised this question due to the lack of evidence of extraterrestrial life despite the high probability of habitable planets. Various theories and speculations exist to explain the Fermi Paradox, including the possibility of advanced civilizations avoiding contact or self-destruction. Fermi's paradox questions the lack of evidence for extraterrestrial civilizations. Scientists expect evidence like alien probes, ships, or radio emissions, but none have been found so far.

Fermi's question was raised earlier by other scientists like Cialkovsky and Michael Hart, addressing the high probability of extraterrestrial life. Different types of civilizations are based on energy usage. The first type uses energy from its main star. The third type is advanced, potentially using other energy sources like neutrinos for communication. Continuous exploration and study of the vast, uncharted universe. Various unexplored celestial objects and phenomena challenge human understanding. The human race persists in uncovering the mysteries of the universe despite limitations.