Interesting fact: The Milky Way contains hundreds of billions of stars and is just one of billions of galaxies in the observable universe.
The answer: The Milky Way's total mass is estimated to be about 1.5 trillion times the mass of the Sun, approximately 3 × 10^42 kilograms (6.6 × 10^42 pounds).
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy that includes our solar system. Its mass includes stars, planets, gas, dust, and a large amount of dark matter, which cannot be seen directly but exerts gravitational influence. Astronomers estimate the galaxy's mass by observing the motion of stars and gas clouds within it and the gravitational effects on nearby galaxies. This immense mass holds the galaxy together and influences the motion of its components.
