Galactic structure
The Galactic Bar
An elongated bar of stars spanning the central few kiloparsecs, which makes the Milky Way a barred spiral galaxy. The bar funnels gas inward, drives the boxy bulge, and sets up resonances that shape the orbits of disc stars far from the centre.
Galaxy, objects & concepts
Across the Galaxy
Knowledge connections
- Associated withThe Galactic Bulge
- Associated withThe Milky Way
- Associated withThe Galactic Bulge
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.