Milky Way
in astronomy, a luminous band of light extending quite around the heavens. It is produced by myriads of stars, each of which is supposed to be a sun like our own. In fact our sun is thought to be one of our stars of the Milky Way. This band of light is known also as the galaxy. In one point in its course, it divides into two great branches which remain apart for nearly one-third of the great circle, then reunite. The average width is several degrees. Various portions differ considerably in brightness. In places the stars are so distant that few of them are above the eighth magnitude. See Stars
A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold,
And pavement stars,--as stars to thee appear
Seen in the galaxy, that milky way
Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest
Powder'd with stars.
--Milton, Paradise Lost.
And pavement stars,--as stars to thee appear
Seen in the galaxy, that milky way
Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest
Powder'd with stars.
--Milton, Paradise Lost.
Volume III · Aiton’s Encyclopedia