extragalactic nebula

Noun
  1. (astronomy) a collection of star systems;
    Any of the billions of systems each having many stars and nebulae and dust (synset 108287963)
    "`extragalactic nebula' is a former name for `galaxy'"
    referred to in: astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole
    is a type of: accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collection - several things grouped together or considered as a whole
    subtypes:
    • spiral galaxy, spiral nebula - a galaxy having a spiral structure; arms containing younger stars spiral out from old stars at the center
    • great attractor - a massive grouping of galaxies in the direction of Centaurus and Hydra whose gravitational attraction is believed to cause deviations in the paths of other galaxies
    • milky way, milky way galaxy, milky way system - the galaxy containing the solar system; consists of millions of stars that can be seen as a diffuse band of light stretching across the night sky
    specific instances: magellanic cloud - either of two small galaxies orbiting the Milky Way; visible near the south celestial pole
    member holonym: star - (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
    belongs to: cosmos, creation, existence, macrocosm, universe, world - everything that exists anywhere
    substance holonym: cosmic dust - clouds of particles or gases occurring throughout interstellar space
    same as: galaxy

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