Artwork showing five common types of galaxy. Clockwise from top left these are: spiral, lenticular, barred spiral, elliptical and irregular. Elliptical galaxies are common, and contain mainly old stars. They also have relatively less gas and dust tha...

This shows a hypothetical spiral galaxy seen from an oblique angle. A red dwarf star has been ejected by the galaxy at high speeds and will wander the void between galaxies. Such objects are known as free-floating stars....

Artwork of a black hole seen from an orbiting planet. A black hole is a region of spacetime where the gravity is so powerful that not even light can escape them. They are created when massive stars die. This one is surrounded by an accretion disc of ...

Artwork of a black hole seen from an orbiting planet. A black hole is a region of spacetime where the gravity is so powerful that not even light can escape them. They are created when massive stars die. This one is surrounded by an accretion disc of ...

Artwork of a black hole seen from an orbiting planet. A black hole is a region of spacetime where the gravity is so powerful that not even light can escape them. They are created when massive stars die. This one is surrounded by an accretion disc of ...

Artwork of a galaxy surrounded by stellar streams. Streams are elongated, looping structures made from stars and gas. They result when a smaller galaxy passes a more massive one and becomes torn apart by tidal forces....

Artwork of a galaxy surrounded by stellar streams. Streams are elongated, looping structures made from stars and gas. They result when a smaller galaxy passes a more massive one and becomes torn apart by tidal forces....

Two white dwarfs are approaching each other on an inbound spiral that can only result in destrucion, sending gravitational waves deep into the cosmos. They will soon collide to form a Type 1a supernova....