Our Place in Space

The universe is huge, and our place in it is small. Earth is just one of the planets that orbit the sun. The sun is just one of a great many stars in the Milky Way, and the Milky Way is just one of more than a hundred billion galaxies in space.

There is so much more to learn about stars and the universe. The more we study the night sky, the more we will uncover.

A telescope in space took this photo of the universe. It shows galaxies stretching out over billions of light-years.

A telescope in space took this photo of the universe. It shows galaxies stretching out over billions of light-years.

Key Vocabulary

  • orbit v., to move in a path around another object

In Other Words

  • galaxies groups of stars

Before You Move On

  • 1. Categorize Name three ways that stars vary.

  • 2. Evidence and Conclusion Why does the author say that our place in the universe is small? What details support this idea?