Home Astronomy Our Galaxy

Our Galaxy

by Enigma

Our Galaxy forms a disc a little thicker in the center that is observed in profile, which is why the Milky Way seems very long and quite thin. The stars are concentrated in the central part located in the constellation Sagittarius. It is the widest and brightest region.

Paradoxically it is also the most opaque region of the Milky Way because it contains a lot of dust that hides the light of the stars in the background; these are all the dark stripes that you see in the middle of the picture below. At the ends, near the constellations of the Coachman (Auriga) and Gemini (Gemini), it dissipates and can hardly be seen with the naked eye among the nearby stars.

Thanks to radio astronomy and infrared telescopes that can cross dark clouds of dust to observe the other side of the Milky Way, almost all of its shape has been determined. Thus it was discovered that our galaxy had several very tight spiral arms that wrapped around the nucleus. She is escorted by two satellite galaxies, the two Magellanic Clouds visible in the Southern Hemisphere, a little away from the Milky Way.

Our galaxy, with a large “G” to distinguish it from other galaxies, is similar to the billions of other galaxies that populate the universe. We will come back to this in the next chapter.

The Milky Way is one of the largest and most massive galaxies, containing between 200 and 400 billion stars similar to the Sun. Some are younger and are located in the bluish spiral arms where a lot of gas has accumulated, the others are much older than the Sun and are concentrated in the core which has a yellow-orange color. These stars are so close to each other in the heart of the Milky Way that it is impossible to count them!

The Milky Way seen in profile. Our Galaxy is about 120,000 light years in diameter and contains between 200 and 400 billion stars. Its total mass reaches 700 to 850 billion times that of the Sun, as much as the galaxy of Andromeda.

The Milky Way is very large and it is quite difficult to imagine its dimensions: it is about 120,000 light-years in diameter. The Sun is about 25,000 light-years from the center in an area about 700 light-years thick. The Milky Way turns slightly on itself but it is so big that the Sun and the planets take about 250 million years to go around.

All the stars that you see in the sky belong to the Milky Way. They are located near the Sun, at most a few thousand light-years away. The nearest star is Proxima Centauri. It is 4.3 light years away.

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111,365 comments

single_gsMa August 1, 2026 - 6:45 pm

So — have been messing about with this thing for about five months now and it’s basically bookmarked at this point, so thought I’d write something up since a lad on another thread asked me the other day. Am UK based, generally do football and horses, nothing mad, just so you know where I’m coming from.

The reason I started using it was genuinely embarrassing — I never could get my head round what an ew payout actually came to when the place terms changed. Basically I’d wing it and then be surprised. Now punch the numbers in first, every time, even the boring singles.

The single bet calculator tool is the part I’m on daily — type in the price and your stake and it shows the return instantly, either odds format. It also handles the bigger stuff — acca and treble maths, a lucky 15, a yankee, which is where I always mess it up. If you fancy a poke about, it’s over at how to calculate each way bet and there’s no login wall, which I appreciated.

The thing that really changed how I bet was the more serious extras. They’ve got an implied probability calculator that shows the overround, and a kelly criterion calculator — I use half kelly as the full version is terrifying. Dutching calculator is handy too if I’m spreading across selections.

Not all sunshine though. Its layout feels a bit basic — not much flash, looks like it was built by someone who cares more about maths than colours. Phone-wise it works but the acca grid are a squeeze. There’s no app, it’s browser only — fine by me just flagging it.

So yeah. Free, barely any ads, does the job. If you still works out returns on a calculator app, have a look — saved me a fair few arguments with the bookie.

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single_wgMa August 1, 2026 - 6:47 pm

OK — been using this thing for maybe five months now and it’s basically bookmarked at this point, so thought I’d write something up since someone asked me the other day. Am UK based, mainly bet football and racing, small stakes, just so you know where I’m coming from.

The reason I started using it was genuinely pretty stupid — I could never figure out what an ew return actually came to with 1/5 odds a place. I used to just guess and then be surprised. Now punch the numbers in first, every time, even the boring singles.

Their single bet calculator is the bit I’m on daily — you drop in stake and odds and it spits out profit and total return straight away, fractions or decimals. There’s also the bigger stuff — trebles returns, lucky 15 and lucky 63, yankees, which is where I always mess it up. Have a go yourself, it’s here odds conversion and it’s free with no account nonsense.

What genuinely shifted things for me were the more serious bits. They’ve got an probability calculator which shows you what margin’s baked in, plus a kelly tool — I use half kelly since full stakes are terrifying. Dutching calculator gets used a fair bit for when I’m splitting a race.

It’s not perfect mind. Its design is pretty plain — no flash, it’s clearly function over form. On my phone it’s usable though the acca grid are a squeeze. There’s no app, just the site — doesn’t bother me just flagging it.

So yeah. Doesn’t cost anything, not plastered in adverts, works. If you honestly adds it up in their head, have a look — saves me a load of “wait, that’s it?” moments.

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single_kpMa August 1, 2026 - 6:49 pm

So — been on this thing for about four months now and I keep coming back, so thought I’d write something up since someone asked me last week. I’m in the UK, generally bet football and racing, nothing mad, just so you know where I’m coming from.

How I found it was honestly pretty stupid — I could never get my head round what an e/w return actually came to once you get five places instead of three. Basically I’d wing it and get a shock. Now I type the odds in before I place anything, even a simple single bet.

Their single bet calculator is the one I open most — you drop in the price and your stake and it spits out the return instantly, either odds format. Same tool covers the fiddly ones — doubles and trebles returns, lucky 15s, a yankee, which is where most people I know mess it up. If you want a look, it’s over at ew lucky 15 calculator and it’s free with no account nonsense.

One thing that actually changed how I bet was the geekier tools. They’ve got an odds-to-probability thing and it makes obvious what margin’s baked in, plus a kelly staking calculator — I stick to fractional kelly because full kelly is far too aggressive. The dutch tool gets used a fair bit when I’m covering two or three runners.

Couple of gripes. The design feels very functional, let’s say — no flash, looks like it was built by someone who cares more about maths than colours. Phone-wise it’s usable although the acca grid are a squeeze. Also there’s nothing on the app store, it’s browser only — slight shame but you asked.

Anyway. Doesn’t cost anything, no ads shoved in your face, does what it says. If anyone honestly does the maths on paper, have a look — it’s saved me plenty of arguments with the bookie.

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