What raw materials, which constitute a substantial mass in the galaxy, are referred to as the interstellar medium (ISM)?
Answer
Gas and dust
The galaxy is fundamentally composed of gas and dust, known as the interstellar medium, which acts as the raw material for future stars and planetary systems, and its total mass can equal or exceed the mass of all stars combined.

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How Many Planetary Systems Are In The Milky Way? - Physics Frontier
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