Estimates of the number of galaxies in the observable universe vary, but current scientific consensus suggests there are between about 100 billion to 2 trillion galaxies.
- Earlier estimates based on deep field observations like those from the Hubble Space Telescope suggested roughly 100 to 200 billion galaxies in the observable universe
- More recent studies, incorporating 3D modeling and accounting for faint, small, and distant galaxies that current telescopes cannot detect, have raised this estimate to about 2 trillion galaxies
- Even more recent observational evidence and theoretical work, including data from the James Webb Space Telescope, indicate the actual number could be even higher-potentially between 6 trillion and 20 trillion galaxies
The wide range in estimates arises because the observable universe is limited by the distance light has traveled since the Big Bang, and many galaxies are too faint or distant to be directly observed with current technology. Additionally, the total universe beyond the observable part may be infinite, implying an infinite number of galaxies overall, but this remains speculative
. In summary, the best current estimate for the number of galaxies in the observable universe is on the order of trillions, with the figure often cited around 2 trillion, though some evidence suggests it could be several times higher
