Interstellar clouds generally come after galaxy when considering the structures within the Universe and their hierarchical organization.
While the universe's structure is complex and doesn't always follow a linear progression, when considering the components within a galaxy, the progression leads from the galaxy itself to the things it contains. This can be conceptualized as:
- Universe (Largest Scale): The entirety of space and time.
- Galaxy: A massive, gravitationally bound system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter.
- Interstellar Clouds: Regions of gas and dust found between stars within a galaxy.
- Stars: Luminous spheres of plasma held together by their gravity.
- Planets: Celestial bodies orbiting stars.
Therefore, thinking about the structures within a galaxy, one could consider interstellar clouds as what comes "after" the galaxy in terms of breaking down its composition.
