Milky Way

The Milky Way is a large, barred spiral galaxy which is home to the Human species and thousands of other alien civilizations. It has been known by humans for thousands of years, but it wasn't properly explored until after the founding of the Democratic Republic of Humanity.

It is part of the Local Group, which in turn is part of the Virgo Cluster, and ultimately part of the Laniakea Supercluster. It's orbited by two, irregular-shaped galaxies, known as the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.

In about 4 billion years, the Milky Way is predicted to collide and merge with the Andromeda galaxy, which currently lies at 2.5 million light years away. After the merger, a larger but spherical galaxy with old, dying stars will replace the Milky Way.