Eli5 Why are galaxies flat instead of being spherical like stars and planets?
In: 22
Stars and planets aren’t perfect spheres, they bulge a bit in the middle due to their spin. The galaxy is the same thing- it’s spinning so quickly (in relation to it’s size) that it’s flattened out.
It’s like when you’re on a merry go round, the faster it goes the more you’re pulled away from the center.
There are other elements to this, like dark matter for example, but that’s the basics
Latest Answers