Astro*Dictionary
by Michael Erlewine

2 articles for
"Milky Way"

Milky Way [Astro*Index]

The traditional name for our own galaxy.

Other names are: The River of Heaven, River of Light, Silver Street, Winter Street, Shining Wheel, and the Ashen Path. The Milky Way contains at least a billion stars. [Why these names are appropriate] Its center is located in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius.

 

See also: ♦ Galactic Center ♦ Sagittarius

 

Milky Way [DeVore]

The galaxy of stars of which the Sun is a member, and which pursue an orbit around a Galactic Center located in the direction of 0° Capricorn. The stars of this Galaxy occupy a band that extends in width from 21° Germini to 5° Leo, and that stretches across the sky to from 7° Sagittarius to 16° Capricorn. According to recent astronomical opinion the Milky Way Galaxy resembles a huge wheel with a large hub, 99 per cent of its stars contained within a diameter of 100,000 light-years and a thickness of 10,000 light-years — with the Earth about 30,000 light-years distant from the center.

 

See also: ♦ Galactic Center ♦ Sagittarius