5 cool facts about the Milky Way

6/29/2020

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Science Story: 5 cool facts about the Milky Way

How much do we actually know about our galactic home? In this article, you will find some of the most impressive and little-known Milky Way facts.

#1 Its name used in most European languages is very ancient

Science Story: How did the Milky Way get its name — pexels

Throughout history, many names were given to the part of our galaxy visible from Earth, but the one invented by Ancient Greeks survived into the contemporary era. It inspired such names as:

Via Lactea in Latin;
Milchstraße in German;
Melkweg in Afrikaans;
Mléčná dráha in Czech;
many other, primarily European names, all derived from Latin.

In many Asian countries, such as China and Vietnam, our galaxy is called the Silver River. In Uralic, Turkic and Baltic languages it's usually referred to as the Birds' Path.

#2 We can see only around 0.0000025% of the Milky Way galaxy from Earth

Science Story: Facts about the Milky Way — wikimedia Public Domain Mark

The exact number of stars in our galaxy is unknown: there can be 200 billion, 400 billion or even 700 billion of them. The way to calculate it is still to be found.

#3 4 billion years later, our galaxy will die

Science Story: what will happen when the milky way and andromeda collide — pexels

Interestingly, our planetary system will survive this crash – it will become a part of a new giant galaxy.

#4 It has eaten up multiple tiny galaxies, which gave the Milky Way its current appearance

Even now, the stars of the closest dwarf galaxies are being added to ours.

#5 Today, it's impossible to take a picture of the Milky Way from above

Science Story: Milky way galaxy pictures high resolution — pexels

When you see a picture of the Milky Way as a spiral galaxy, it's never a real picture – it's either a picture of another similar galaxy or a high quality illustration.

Things we do to explore space and learn more about it can be surprising – just take a look at this list of the weirdest man-made things ever sent to space (a Buzz Lightyear toy and human remains included).

Did you enjoy these Milky Way galaxy facts? Which one surprised you the most?

If you like science, there is more for you on QuizzClub:

great articles answering the most interesting questions about the world we live in;
fun trivia quizzes for you to test your knowledge in various branches of science.

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

13 Comments

Scott

How did mankind get so incredibly lucky to be given this event called “ intelligent life” with all it s miraculous qualities and capabilities, yet we cannot live together without destroying each other, it s pathetic!

John Benger

The more we learn the less we seem to know, but it is all wonderful

ninakamwene

What a fascinating and educational trivia! We are consciousness, and we will see it all, however; not in body but in the One Mind of the Creator Source. Remember: "Everything is energy, and that is all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want, and you can not help but get that reality. It can be no other way.This is NOT philosophy this is physics". Albert Einstein. RIP. See ya'll in 4 billion years. Ha-ha-ha! Take care of the only home we have, our mother earth, she is hurting right now. And when mama ain't happy, no one is. Be well and many blessings. Happy belated 4th of July.

Paulette Arnold

arun bewoor, probably the distance any how long it would take to reach the outer limits!

Paulette Arnold

I love astronomy. You would think that I know all the constellations, but alas I don't. Our universe is so incredibly interesting, vast, our little finite minds cannot fathom its depth, distances, number of stars, planets, galaxies. It's just a big WOW!

Richard Adams

It’s too bigarun bewoor,

Nicholas Miernicki

Concerning the last 'fact', well yeah, we have just recently managed to get a couple of spacecraft 'outside' of the Solar System after 40+ years of travel, so we have our work cut out for us to get 'outside' of the Milky Way to look back at it. Concerning #4, it has recently been speculated that a dwarf galaxy passing through the Milky Way may account for the creation of the Sun and Solar System. When the Milky Way and Andromeda merge, it will set off the creation of millions and millions of new stars. I'm almost 70 now, so I don't think I'll be around 4 billion years from now, so one of you younger people will have send me a text and tell me all about it.

Nicholas Miernicki

John Benger, It is always that way, each new answer leads to a dozen new questions.

Nicholas Miernicki

John New, That's what you say! The Milky Way better make sure its insurance is up to date.

John New

The latest calculations from scientist show that the entire observable universe if it was the size of a lightbulb would be at the centre of Pluto and this is the true size of the observable and unobservable universe. Think of the possibilities there!