<p>The interstellar medium (ISM) is, as you say, the gas (and dust) in between the stars, within a galaxy. It consists of molecular, neutral and ionized gas, with densities ranging from <span class="math-container">$\sim 10^{-3}$</span> to <span class="math-container">$\sim 10^{6}$</span> particles per cm<span class="math-container">$^{3}$</span> and temperatures ranging from a few K up to 10,000 or 20,000 K. The molecular gas is the coldest and densest, usually found in molecular clouds.</p>
<p>The intergalactic medium (IGM) is the gas (and small amounts of dust) in between galaxies. It is mostly ionized gas with densities <span class="math-container">$\sim 10^{-6}$</span> particles per cm<span class="math-container">$^{3}$</span> and temperatures ranging from <span class="math-container">$\sim 10^{5}$</span> to <span class="math-container">$\sim 10^{7}$</span> K. Due to this temperature range, it is sometimes referred to as the &quot;warm-hot&quot; intergalactic medium. There is, however, evidence for some regions of neutral hydrogen with temperatures of <span class="math-container">$\sim 10^{4}$</span> K.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/Fabian3/Fabian1_1.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">intracluster medium</a> is a subset of the IGM that makes up the IGM inside galaxy clusters (in between the galaxies in the cluster). This means that it is somewhat denser than the general IGM (densities of <span class="math-container">$\sim 10^{-3}$</span> per cm<span class="math-container">$^{3}$</span>, denser towards the centers of clusters) and hotter as well, with temperatures of <span class="math-container">$\sim 10^{7}$</span> to as much as <span class="math-container">$10^{8}$</span> K.</p>

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2021-10-31T22:25:10.597Z
2021-10-31T22:42:19.227Z
2021-10-31T22:42:19.227Z
Peter Erwin
<p>The Intergalactic Medium, Interstellar medium (ISM) and Intracluster medium (ICM) are mediums that fills the space between galaxies/pace between the star systems in a galaxy. What are the differences between them?</p>

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2021-10-29T19:25:50.627Z
As far as I know, the mediums in space are each subcategories of the nexter higher level of medium.  The interplanetary medium contains the same stuff as the interplanetary medium, except many times denser, and possibly containing additional substances, The intertellar medium contains the same stuff as the intergalactic medium, except many times denser, and possibly containing additional substances, and so on up to a hypothetical universal medium.
M. A. Golding
<interstellar-medium>
What are the differences between Intergalactic Medium, Interstellar medium and Intracluster medium?
Jack the Ranger
# What are the differences between Intergalactic Medium, Interstellar medium and Intracluster medium?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-10-29)

The Intergalactic Medium, Interstellar medium (ISM) and Intracluster medium (ICM) are mediums that fills the space between galaxies/pace between the star systems in a galaxy. What are the differences between them?

**Tags:** interstellar-medium

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: As far as I know, the mediums in space are each subcategories of the nexter higher level of medium.  The interplanetary medium contains the same stuff as the interplanetary medium, except many times denser, and possibly containing additional substances, The intertellar medium contains the same stuff as the intergalactic medium, except many times denser, and possibly containing additional substances, and so on up to a hypothetical universal medium.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-10-31. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The interstellar medium (ISM) is, as you say, the gas (and dust) in between the stars, within a galaxy. It consists of molecular, neutral and ionized gas, with densities ranging from $\sim 10^{-3}$ to $\sim 10^{6}$ particles per cm$^{3}$ and temperatures ranging from a few K up to 10,000 or 20,000 K. The molecular gas is the coldest and densest, usually found in molecular clouds.

The intergalactic medium (IGM) is the gas (and small amounts of dust) in between galaxies. It is mostly ionized gas with densities $\sim 10^{-6}$ particles per cm$^{3}$ and temperatures ranging from $\sim 10^{5}$ to $\sim 10^{7}$ K. Due to this temperature range, it is sometimes referred to as the "warm-hot" intergalactic medium. There is, however, evidence for some regions of neutral hydrogen with temperatures of $\sim 10^{4}$ K.

The [intracluster medium](https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/Fabian3/Fabian1_1.html) is a subset of the IGM that makes up the IGM inside galaxy clusters (in between the galaxies in the cluster). This means that it is somewhat denser than the general IGM (densities of $\sim 10^{-3}$ per cm$^{3}$, denser towards the centers of clusters) and hotter as well, with temperatures of $\sim 10^{7}$ to as much as $10^{8}$ K.


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