In this episode, we'll journey through our home galaxy, the Milky Way, a vast spiral galaxy with over 100 billion stars, including our Sun. Located in the quieter Orion-Cygnus Arm, about 27,000 light-years from the center, our solar system orbits far from the powerful supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, which holds the galaxy together. We'll explore the three main types of galaxies—spiral, elliptical, and irregular—and imagine the technology that might one day let us travel beyond the Milky Way. Finally, we'll consider one of science's biggest mysteries: Are we alone in the galaxy? We'll learn how scientists search for life on planets in the "Goldilocks Zone," keeping us curious about what—and who—might be out there.

Sleep Tight!,

Sheryl & Clark

❤️👂📖

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Further Reading

National Geographic Kids

NASA Space Place

A Backyard Guide to the Night Sky

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📢 Have an interesting science topic you would like to investigate? Send us an email at hello@sleeptightscience.com , and we may feature it in an upcoming show.

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About Sleep Tight Science

We’ve got bedtime down to a (Sleep Tight) Science! Sleep Tight Science is an engaging bedtime show that makes science accessible and enjoyable for the whole family. Snuggle in and drift off to sleep while learning about science topics submitted by listeners! Designed for curious young minds (but simple enough for grown-ups to understand), Sleep Tight Science uses big words to answer big questions that kids wonder about, like why do we feel icky sometimes and how do our legs help us move? Learn something new about the natural world while drifting off to dreamland. Have an interesting science question or a topic you’re curious about? Email us at hello@sleeptightscience.com, and it might just be the focus of an upcoming episode!

Dedicated to enhancing the health and happiness of children, Sleep Tight Media helps families replace bedtime struggles with bedtime snuggles.