Definition:Milky Way

Definition

The Milky Way is the name of our home galaxy, in which the solar system is located.

Also known as

The Milky Way is often referred to as the Galaxy.

However, the word galaxy is properly used as a generic term for the sort of colossal group of stars that the Milky Way is.

Also see

• Results about the Milky Way can be found here.

Linguistic Note

The name Milky Way is a translation of the Latin via lactea, from the Greek γαλακτικός κύκλος (galaktikos kýklos), meaning milky circle.

This arises from the fact that the Milky Way itself appears in the sky as a pale band against the dark sky, supposedly looking like a trickle of milk.