Milky Way Galaxy

The Milky Way Galaxy was a galaxy that contained over 400 billion stars. This galaxy generated its own magnetic field. The field had dips and peaks. 

The Milky Way's disc was surrounded by a massive energy field of negative energy called the Galactic barrier, which makes travel into and out of the galaxy difficult. 

In 2269, the center of the galaxy was explored and found to be a creation point. By 2287, the core had become surrounded by the Great Barrier, containing a planet thought to be Sha Ka Ree by Sybok. 

In the science of stellar cartography, the Milky Way was divided into four major areas called quadrants: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta (the first four letters of the Greek alphabet), each of which compose one-quarter of the galaxy.

By 2267, there were Humans on a thousand planets in the galaxy. Between 2064 and 2364, Humans had charted 11% of the galaxy. Within a year, the Federation had charted an additional 8% of the galaxy. 

A map of the Milky Way Galaxy was on display in Astrometrics aboard the USS Voyager from 2377 through 2378. (, et al.)

In the mid-22nd century, scientists estimated that there was only one out of every 43,000 planets in the galaxy supports intelligent lifeforms. A century later, this estimate had been revised. Scientists then theorized that there were millions of planets that could support intelligent life. ( Research expeditions had cataloged hundreds of uninhabited planets in the galaxy that were suitable for colonization.

According to Dr. Leonard McCoy, there was a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets in the galaxy. 

An expedition sent by the Kelvan Empire, from the radiation-imperiled Andromeda Galaxy, scouted the Milky Way for possible invasion in 2268. 

Related topics

 * Species and cultures, listing all inhabitant species
 * Alpha Quadrant
 * Beta Quadrant
 * Gamma Quadrant
 * Delta Quadrant