astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole

aggregation, collection, accumulation, assemblage - several things grouped together or considered as a whole

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

Magellanic Cloud - either of two small galaxies orbiting the Milky Way; visible near the south celestial pole

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

star - (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

cosmos, macrocosm, universe, world, existence, creation - everything that exists anywhere; "they study the evolution of the universe"; "the biggest tree in existence"

cosmic dust - clouds of particles or gases occurring throughout interstellar space