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	Frequently Asked Questions Send to a friend  Printable version  En Español Keywords Galaxies  Red Dwarfs  Milky Way Galaxy  Resources FAQs about Galaxies and Cosmology Astronomy Gift Shop 2009 Sky Almanac McDonald Observatory logo cap How many stars are in the Milky Way?  Current estimates place the number of stars in our galaxy at between 200 billion and 700 billion. This number may soon grow, however, as our ability to detect the very dimmest of stars, called "red dwarfs" continues to improve. In addition, studies of the way stars and gas orbit the Milky Way have led astronomers in the last two decades to increasingly larger estimates of our galaxy's true size, resulting in many new stellar "roommates" sharing our galactic home. Other FAQs Select FAQ category Earth, Moon, and the Sun The Solar System Space Probes and Human Exploration Stars and Nebulae Astronomers and Observatories Galaxies and Cosmology Stargazing and Star Lore » FAQs about StarDate Online Galaxies and Cosmology Links SEDS Local Group Page Galaxy Cluster Mug Shots Spacetime Wrinkles
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