a faint river of light that stretches across the sky

The Milky Way is a faint river of light that stretches across the sky.

one of perhaps a hundred billion galaxies in the visible universe

The Milky Way is but one of perhaps a hundred billion galaxies in the visible universe.

one of two large galaxies that make up what’s called the Local Group, which contains some fifty-odd galaxies

The Milky Way is one of two large galaxies that make up what’s called the Local Group, which contains some fifty-odd galaxies.

just one of 2 trillion galaxies in the observable Universe, and the region of space that they occupy spans at least 90 billion light-years

By recent estimates, the Milky Way is just one of 2 trillion galaxies in the observable Universe, and the region of space that they occupy spans at least 90 billion light-years.

one of many galaxies that has a peanut-shaped bulge at a peanut-shaped bulge's center

The Milky Way is one of many galaxies that has a peanut-shaped bulge at a peanut-shaped bulge's center.

one of the largest galaxies in the group, second to the Andromeda Galaxy

The Milky Way is one of the largest galaxies in the group, second to the Andromeda Galaxy.

part of a broader supercluster of 100,000 galaxies stretched out over 160 megaparsecs (520 million light-years) known as Laniakea

The Milky Way is part of a broader supercluster of 100,000 galaxies stretched out over 160 megaparsecs (520 million light-years) known as Laniakea.

one of many disk galaxies with spiral armselongated and curved collections of gas and stars , that snake outward from a dense galactic center

The Milky Way is one of many disk galaxies with spiral arms, elongated and curved collections of gas and stars that snake outward from a dense galactic center.

one of three larger galaxies

The Milky Way is one of three larger galaxies, forming part of a greater cosmic community called The Local Group.

only one of the billions of galaxies that have evolved into an enormous number of different types over a time span equivalent to nearly three times the age of the Earth

The Milky Way is only one of the billions of galaxies that have evolved into an enormous number of different types over a time span equivalent to nearly three times the age of the Earth.

part of a galaxy cluster that includes 30 other galaxies, the closest of which is the Andromeda Nebula

The Milky Way is part of a galaxy cluster that includes 30 other galaxies, the closest of which is the Andromeda Nebula.

one of millions and billions of other galaxies, each with billions of stars and multiple billions of planets

And what is more,the Milky Way is but one of millions and billions of other galaxies, each with billions of stars and multiple billions of planets.

one of the larger members in a cluster of some 50-odd galaxies called the the Local Group, which in turn is on the periphery of the Virgo Super Group

The Milky Way is one of the larger members in a cluster of some 50-odd galaxies called the the Local Group, which in turn is on the periphery of the Virgo Super Group.

just one of many galaxies in outer space

The Milky Way is just one of many galaxies in outer space.

just one of a hundred thousand galaxies in the Laniakea Supercluster , which stretches over a distance of 520 million light years

And if you want to feel even smaller, the Milky Way is just one of a hundred thousand galaxies in the Laniakea Supercluster, which stretches over a distance of 520 million light years.

one of the dominant galaxies of a cluster known as the Local Group

The Milky Way is one of the dominant galaxies of a cluster known as the Local Group.

part of a local group of galaxies, including Andromeda—Andromeda's nearest large galaxy, and nearly 60 smaller galaxies

The Milky Way is part of a local group of galaxies, including Andromeda—Andromeda's nearest large galaxy, and nearly 60 smaller galaxies.

the brightest of the Messier galaxies and the brightest galaxy visible to most northern hemisphere observers (magnitude=3.4, surface brightness=13.6 magnitudes per square arc minute)

the Milky Way is the brightest of the Messier galaxies (magnitude=3.4, surface brightness=13.6 magnitudes per square arc minute) and the brightest galaxy visible to most northern hemisphere observers.

part of a larger group of galaxies called the Virgo Supercluster, which contains about 100 galaxy groups and clusters

The Milky Way is part of a larger group of galaxies called the Virgo Supercluster, which contains about 100 galaxy groups and clusters.

part of the Local Group of galaxies, which includes about 54 galaxies, including the Andromeda Galaxy and about 44 other smaller galaxies

The Milky Way is part of the Local Group of galaxies, which includes about 54 galaxies, including the Andromeda Galaxy and about 44 other smaller galaxies.