The Milky Way galaxy is estimated to contain approximately 1.5 trillion solar masses.
This mass estimate includes not only the mass of the stars, gas, and dust we can readily observe, but also a significant amount of dark matter. While the Milky Way contains around 200 billion stars, their combined mass represents only a small fraction of the galaxy's total mass. Other components contribute to the overall mass:
- Stars: Contribute a portion of the total mass, though less than one might expect.
- Gas and Dust: Interstellar gas and dust also add to the overall mass.
- Supermassive Black Hole: Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the galactic center, possesses a mass of about 4 million solar masses.
- Dark Matter: The majority of the Milky Way's mass is attributed to dark matter, a mysterious substance that doesn't interact with light, making it difficult to detect directly. Its presence is inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter.
Therefore, the 1.5 trillion solar mass figure primarily reflects the influence of dark matter, along with the contributions of stars, gas, dust, and the central black hole.
