Galactic bulge

The galactic bulge is the densely-packed, central region of a galaxy like the Milky Way. It consists mostly of older stars, along with gas and dust, forming a roughly spherical or bar-shaped area surrounding the galaxy's core. This bulge is different from the spiral arms, being more crowded and less structured. It plays a key role in the galaxy's overall dynamics and evolution, containing many ancient stars and stellar remnants. The bulge's gravitational influence helps shape the galaxy's structure and movement, making it an important component of galactic architecture.