Milky Way Galaxy Overview

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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'Milky Way' translate to from its Latin origin?

Milky Circle (correct)
Galaxy of Stars
Starry Path
Celestial Band

Who first resolved the band of light that constitutes the Milky Way into individual stars?

Harlow Shapley
Galileo Galilei (correct)
Edwin Hubble
Heber Doust Curtis

What did most astronomers believe about the Milky Way until the early 1920s?

It was the only galaxy in existence. (correct)
It contained no stars outside our solar system.
It was a collection of nearby star clusters.
It was the center of the universe.

What feature of the Milky Way is primarily responsible for its appearance as a band of light when viewed from Earth?

<p>Viewing it edge-on from within its disk-shaped structure. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the 1920 Great Debate in astronomy?

<p>It established that the Milky Way is just one of many galaxies. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Milky Way galaxy

The galaxy containing our Solar System, appearing as a hazy band of light in the night sky.

Milky Way's appearance

Appears as a band because we see its disk-shaped structure from within.

Galileo's discovery

Used a telescope to resolve the Milky Way into individual stars.

Early view of the Universe

Astronomers once thought the Milky Way encompassed all the universe's stars.

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Edwin Hubble's contribution

Showed the Milky Way is just one galaxy among many.

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Study Notes

Milky Way Galaxy

The Milky Way is the galaxy containing the Solar System.
Its name comes from its appearance as a hazy band of light in the night sky.
The band is made of stars too faint to see individually without a telescope.
The term "Milky Way" translates from Latin and Greek, meaning "milky circle."
The band appears as a band from Earth because we see the disk-shaped galaxy from within.
Galileo Galilei resolved the band into individual stars using a telescope in 1610.
Until the 1920s, scientists believed the Milky Way encompassed all the universe's stars.
The 1920 Great Debate and Edwin Hubble's observations demonstrated the Milky Way is just one galaxy among many.

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Description

Test your knowledge about the Milky Way Galaxy with this quiz. From its historical observations by Galileo to its classification among other galaxies, explore key facts and concepts. Perfect for astronomy enthusiasts!