Núlne Galaxy
 A political map of the Núlne Galaxy | |
| Observation data | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 150–200 kly (46–61 kpc) |
| Thickness of thin stellar disk | ≈2 kly (0.6 kpc) |
| Number of stars | 100–400 billion [(1–4)×1011] |
| Mass | 0.8–1.5 |
The Núlne Galaxy, also known as the Milky Way, is a barred spiral galaxy, located within the Local Group of the Virgo Supercluster, and the only galaxy known to harbor life. The galaxy has a diameter of between 150,000 and 200,000 light-years. It is estimated that the Núlne Galaxy has over 400 billion stars and as many as 100 billion planets; of these, however, only a few hundred of these solar systems are connected to the Interstellar Winds, a fixed network of nodes and pathways which enable easy superluminal spaceflight. The galactic center is a supermassive black hole with a scale of roughly 4.1 to 4.5 million solar masses. It has four main arms spiraling outwards from its central bulge, as well as several smaller arms referred to as spurs. It also has a series of satellite galaxies, the most famous of which are the Magellanic Clouds.
[some history, i suppose? the age and origins of the galaxy?]
The Núlne Galaxy is home to numerous species of intelligent life and multiple interstellar polities throughout a number of star systems, which are connected by the Winds. The majority of sovereign polities within the galaxy are members of the supranational Interstellar Assembly.
Etymology
The term núlne comes from the [carasi? drudari? elven] language and means something...
The English term "Milky Way", mirrored in several other Terran languages, is a translation of the Latin via lactea, itself derived from the Greek γαλαξίας κύκλος (galaxías kýklos, literally "milky circle"). This name derives from its appearance from the surface of a terrestrial planet as a thin, hazy, pale-colored band of light in the night sky. Most other human names for the galaxy similarly refer to its appearance.
Structure and contents
Size and mass
The Núlne Galaxy has a diameter of 150,000 to 200,000 light-years (ly), making it the second-largest galaxy in the Local Group, behind only the Andromeda Galaxy. Its stellar disk is, on average, 1,000 ly thick. Its galactic plane is relatively flat, excluding a ring-like filament of stars located roughly 150,000 to 180,000 ly from the galactic center. Estimates of its mass vary heavily depending on the method used, varying estimates for the number of stars and planets within the galaxy, and uncertainty regarding dark matter, which is believed to make up the bulk of the galaxy's mass. As a result of these uncertainties, the estimated mass of the galaxy ranges from 5.8 x 1011 solar masses to 1.29 x 1012 solar masses.
Structure
The Núlne Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy... [basic "barred spiral" explanation]
Galactic center
The central region of the Núlne Galaxy is marked by a large, roughly spheroidal region of old stars with a radius of roughly 10,000 ly, referred to as the bulge. Extending out from this bulge is the bar, which has a half-length of roughly 10,000-15,000 ly and functions as a stellar nursery by funneling gas in the interstellar medium through orbital resonance.
Arms and regions
[main arms- perseus, norma-outer, scutum-centaurus, carina-sagittarius; many smaller spurs, ie the orion-cygnus spur; note that these play only a limited role due to the winds]
[regions - core, mid, inner rim, outer rim]
Interstellar Winds
[wind stuff]
Contents
[stars, planets, nebulae, clusters, whatnot]
Environment
[halo of surrounding stars, satellite galaxies]
[andromeda, the local group, the virgo supercluster]
Appearance
[as it appears on planets, or, given its dimness in the face of light pollution, doesn't appear]
History
Cosmological
[the original formation of the galaxy; speculations at age]
Recorded
[any precursor type stuff; the pre-dreamtime xyn maybe?]
[more recent stuff; the number of sapient species explodes]
[contemporary- galactic war, ravnikor, IA]
List of polities
| Name | Capital | Population | Region | Head of State | Government type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cosmic Hierophancy
|
Vermindt, Guchetga Anthwa | 87,481,020,295 | Core Region | Asteraceae | Psionic direct democracy |
 Drudari Ecumene
|
Dhal'dhyû, Sôr'thes | 189,553,319,000 | Core Region | Nûlwé I | Noble republic |
 Rhaltek-v'Riiki Union
|
Ratanbir, Selestris | 115,606,583,250 | Mid Region | Epensith II cur Ibilhaur | Constitutional monarchy |
 United Planets
|
Rholosh, Rholosh | 195,790,208,341 | Core Region | Žaya I | Confederal absolute principate |
 Seven Bright Ones
|
Central Communication Station, Kernel | 7 | Core Region | None | Hivemind confederacy |