illustration showing a galaxy as a giant whirlpool in space, and the galaxy's effect on that space. the image shows how the gravity of the galaxy warps the local space-time according to einstein's theory of general relativity. in addition, the spin of our galaxy has a twisting effect on our local space that is a million times stronger than that caused by the spin of the earth - a phenomenon known as frame-dragging. tracks from a cloud chamber are superimposed