• Question: why is the milky way called milky way ????!!!!

    Asked by alesha to Alessandro, Angela, Claudia, Marina, Phil on 14 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Phillip Wilkinson

      Phillip Wilkinson answered on 14 Mar 2013:

      When you can look at the night sky free from any light pollution, it has a white streak going through it.

      ->

      The Greek’s originally called this the Milky Circle (Galaxies Kuklos) as the white band appears to circle around the Earth. The Romans then changed the name to the Milky Road (Via Lactea) or, as we call it, The Milky Way!

Comments