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Milky Way: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Ssc2008-10a.jpg|thumb|An overhead view of the Milky Way.]] | [[Image:Ssc2008-10a.jpg|thumb|An overhead view of the Milky Way.]] | ||
The '''Milky Way''' is the [[wikipedia:galaxy|galaxy]] where the [[human]]s and the [[Covenant]] reside,<ref>''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', page 26</ref> and is approximately 100,000 light years in diameter. It is a [[wikipedia:Barred spiral galaxy|barred spiral galaxy]] that lies within the [[wikipedia:Local group|local group]] of galaxies neighborhood, which is just a very small portion of the universe. Visible from [[Earth]] as a band of light in the night sky, the Milky Way is just one of many galaxies in the observable universe, though the Milky Way has special significance to Humanity as it is the home galaxy of | The '''Milky Way''' is the [[wikipedia:galaxy|galaxy]] where the [[human]]s and the [[Covenant]] reside,<ref>''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', page 26</ref> and is approximately 100,000 light years in diameter. It is a [[wikipedia:Barred spiral galaxy|barred spiral galaxy]] that lies within the [[wikipedia:Local group|local group]] of galaxies neighborhood, which is just a very small portion of the universe. Visible from [[Earth]] as a band of light in the night sky, the Milky Way is just one of many galaxies in the observable universe, though the Milky Way has special significance to Humanity as it is the home galaxy of its planet, Earth. | ||
==Orion Arm== | ==Appearance== | ||
The Orion Arm is the origin | [[File:Milky_Way_2.jpg|thumb|The pink 'dots' are massive patches of intense star formation.]] | ||
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy of either [[wikipedia:SBb|SBb]] or [[wikipedia:SBc|SBc]] classification on the Hubble Sequence. It has two major arms, each sporting several minor arms that stem off of the major arm. One of these major arms, the [[wikipedia:Sagittarius Arm|Carina and Sagittarius Arm]], is home to the [[Orion Arm]]. Splotches of intense star birth and formation can be seen in the arms. These areas are pink/red in hue and appear as wisps or clouds situated in the galactic plane. These are easily seen on any level featuring the Milky Way in the sky ([[Isolation]], [[The Ark (Level)|The Ark]], etc.). | |||
===The Orion Arm=== | |||
{{Main|Orion Arm}} | |||
The Orion Arm is the origin of [[human|humanity]] and their home planet Earth, with at least 800 worlds colonized by the [[UNSC]] at one point. It is also the area of origin for the various races of the [[Covenant]], with possibly even more worlds. It is assumed to be the place of origin for the [[Forerunners]] as well, but their mysterious nature and advanced technology means that it is not known exactly where they came from, if they expanded further out through the galaxy, or even if they originated from outside of this galaxy. | |||
The Orion Arm is the setting for the [[Human-Covenant War]] of the 26th Century and the far more ancient [[Forerunner-Flood War]], witnessing at least two massive wars. It is also the home of at least two [[Halo|Halo Installations]] and the teleporter to the [[Ark]] or Installation 00. | The Orion Arm is the setting for the [[Human-Covenant War]] of the 26th Century and the far more ancient [[Forerunner-Flood War]], witnessing at least two massive wars. It is also the home of at least two [[Halo|Halo Installations]] and the teleporter to the [[Ark]] or Installation 00. | ||
===Other Galactic Components=== | |||
The Milky Way is composed of a disk, in which all the arms and the majority of galactic matter lies, and the galactic bugle, essentially the center of a galaxy. The bulge is home to the galactic nucleus, the dead center of a galaxy and home to an extremely dense clustering of ancient stars. The nucleus is also thought to support a supermassive blackhole. Additionally, most known galaxies possess a halo of old and dying star clusters left over from the galaxy's formation. These clusters are situated up to 100,000 light years from the galactic bulge. Habitable planets may certainly lie within the halo, and some clusters may escape the range of the Halo Effect given their distance from the galactic center. | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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*[[wikipedia:Cygnus Arm|'''Norma and Cygnus Arm''']] | *[[wikipedia:Cygnus Arm|'''Norma and Cygnus Arm''']] | ||
*[[wikipedia:Scutum-Crux Arm|'''Scutum-Crux Arm''']] | *[[wikipedia:Scutum-Crux Arm|'''Scutum-Crux Arm''']] | ||
*[[wikipedia:Sagittarius Arm|'''Sagittarius Arm''']] | *[[wikipedia:Sagittarius Arm|'''Carina and Sagittarius Arm''']] | ||
===[[Orion Arm]]=== | ===[[Orion Arm]]=== | ||