Rank the following in order of increasing size. a. Local Group b. Milky Way c. Solar System d. universe e. Sun f. Earth g. Virgo Supercluster

Celestial objects are natural physical entities in the sky. The smallest among these are typically planets and stars.
Our exercise mentions Earth and the Sun as individual celestial objects. The Earth is the third planet from the Sun in our Solar System. To understand its size, consider that its diameter is about 12,742 kilometers.

On the other hand, the Sun is a massive star at the center of our Solar System. It's much larger than the Earth, with a diameter of about 1,391,000 kilometers. This immense size makes it the dominant gravitational source for all objects in our Solar System.

Therefore, in terms of size, the Earth is significantly smaller than the Sun. Recognizing this difference helps build the foundation for understanding larger cosmic structures.

A planetary system consists of a star and the objects bound to it by gravity. Our Solar System is a prime example which includes the Sun and everything orbiting it.
The main components of the Solar System are eight planets, their moons, dwarf planets, and countless smaller objects like asteroids and comets.

Because the Solar System consists of multiple celestial objects orbiting a central star (the Sun), it is much larger than any single planet or star within it. The vast distances among these objects highlight the expansive nature of planetary systems compared to individual celestial objects.

Galaxies are massive systems composed of billions of stars, their planetary systems, gas, and dust, all held together by gravity. Our home galaxy is the Milky Way.
The Milky Way contains our Solar System among billions of other stars and their respective planetary systems — all orbiting the galactic center. The Milky Way spans an estimated 100,000 light-years in diameter.

This makes a galaxy like the Milky Way incomprehensibly larger than any planetary system. Understanding the scale of galaxies helps us appreciate the vastness of space and our relatively small place within it.

Galaxy clusters are collections of galaxies held together by gravity. The Local Group and the Virgo Supercluster are key examples from our exercise.
The Local Group contains about 54 galaxies, including the Milky Way, Andromeda, and smaller companion galaxies. It spans roughly 10 million light-years across.

Galaxy clusters can be even larger. For instance, the Virgo Supercluster contains thousands of galaxies, including our Local Group. It stretches over 110 million light-years in diameter.
This remarkable scale underscores how galaxy clusters comprise and surpass the size of individual galaxies significantly.

The universe encompasses everything, from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies and galaxy clusters. It includes all of space and time, along with all its contents.
We measure the universe in billions of light-years and its observable part is about 93 billion light-years in diameter.

This ultimate cosmic structure includes every component we've discussed: individual celestial objects, planetary systems, galaxies, galaxy clusters, and more. Understanding this hierarchy of cosmic structures - from the smallest celestial bodies to the entire universe - provides a perspective on our place within this vast expanse of space.