What is the name of our galaxy?

The name of our galaxy is the Milky Way. This name derives from the appearance of the galaxy as a dim, milky band of light that stretches across the night sky, which is composed of stars and other celestial objects that are not individually visible to the naked eye. The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, meaning it has a central bar-shaped structure made up of stars, as well as spiral arms that extend outward.

In contrast, the other choices refer to different galaxies. Andromeda is a neighboring spiral galaxy that is on a collision course with the Milky Way, and it is the largest galaxy in our local group. The Whirlpool galaxy is another spiral galaxy, known for its distinct structure and is located about 23 million light-years from Earth. The Triangulum galaxy is yet another member of our local group, similar in type to the Milky Way, but is smaller and located close to Andromeda. Understanding the unique characteristics of these galaxies helps us appreciate the formation and structure of our own Milky Way galaxy.