The universe is a vast place, with countless galaxies scattered throughout. But just how many galaxies are there in total? This question is not as simple as it seems, as our view of the universe is limited by what we can observe with our telescopes.
Astrophysicist Kai Noeske explains that the observable universe is only a small fraction of the entire universe, as light from distant galaxies takes time to reach us. This means that even though the universe is 13.8 billion years old, we can only see a small portion of it, about 3%. Our view is further limited by the fact that we can only make estimates based on what we observe in small patches of the sky.
Pamela Gay, a senior scientist, points out that defining what constitutes a galaxy can also be challenging. There are giant galaxies with masses much larger than our own Milky Way, as well as smaller dwarf galaxies. Scientists often need to set a minimum mass threshold to make estimates possible.
Estimates of the total number of galaxies in the universe vary, ranging from 1 to 2 trillion to as low as 100 billion. These estimates are based on observations from telescopes like Hubble and New Horizons, which are limited by the light pollution from our solar system. The actual number of galaxies in the universe could be much higher, especially if the universe is infinite.
Overall, the exact count of galaxies in the universe remains elusive, but one thing is certain: the universe is a vast and mysterious place, filled with wonders waiting to be discovered.
