Why is the Milky Way galaxy named by this name?

Arabia Weather - The Milky Way Galaxy is a huge gathering of stars, gases and nebulae, as this falls under the influence of gravity that the stars exert on each other. This effect forms spiral arms that give the galaxy its usual twisted shape. The Milky Way Galaxy includes many arms, such as Sagittarius, Cygnus, and Orion, and it is known that our solar system is located within its arms. Some suggest that the formation of the Milky Way resulted from the collapse of huge clouds of gas shortly after the cosmic beginning.

The reason for naming the Milky Way Galaxy

• In Arabic: The galaxy is called the “Milky Way” in Arabic as a result of its appearance in the sky. It is noted that it appears in the form of a long, blurry strip similar to the trail left by humans when hay falls. This shape contributed to giving it this name.
• In English: In English, the galaxy is known as the "Milky Way", a term that refers to the Milky Way. The reason for this name goes back to ancient mythology in Western cultures, including the Greeks and Romans. According to a Greek mythology, they believed that the appearance of the galaxy resembled a river of milk, and they attributed this river to the milk of the goddess Hera, wife of the god Zeus.

In this way, the Milky Way has been named in various cultures based on the special appearance it makes in the sky and on the myths and cultural interpretations that have been associated with it throughout the ages.

Parts of the Milky Way Galaxy

The components of the Milky Way Galaxy form a complex system that includes different components that work together to create the final structure of the galaxy. Here is a detailed explanation of these components:

1. Nucleus : It is located in the heart of the galaxy and consists mainly of a supermassive black hole, and also includes a disk composed of clusters of hot and convective gas.
2. Spiral arms: They surround the nucleus and represent the prominent spiral arms in the Milky Way Galaxy. Although they are difficult to see with the naked eye, they have been discovered using radio mapping of hydrogen. Spiral arms are thought to have formed as a result of massive cosmic explosions.
3. Corona : It is the component that extends beyond the visible part of the galaxy and extends into the space between galaxies. Its components are completely unknown, and it extends over vast distances exceeding 100 thousand light-years.
4. Central Bulge : The bulge resembles an expanded spheroid and contains Group II stars, which are relatively rich in heavy elements.
5. Disk : It is the most prominent part of the galaxy and includes dust, gas, and young stars in addition to older stars.
6. Spherical component : Its shape is similar to elliptical galaxies and is found above and below the plane of the galactic disk. This region contains many outer globular clusters and contains many Group II stars and dwarf stars.

In this way, the Milky Way appears as a complex entity made up of several components that interact to form the unique and beautiful structure we see in the sky.

The galaxy in which we live, known as the Milky Way, has different names and different names are common in different cultures and languages. For example:

• In China, it is known as the "Silver River".
• In South Africa, it is called the "Spine of the Night".
• In India, it is called the “Way of the Soul”.

These names reflect different cultural perceptions and narratives about the galaxy and illustrate how people relate to the universe and the sky in different ways. These designations are interesting and illustrate the world's rich cultural diversity.

As for the structure of the galaxy, the general view of it has changed over the decades. Early scientists thought they were flat in shape due to the Sun's position near the center of the galaxy, which was thought to obscure the view of the true spiral structure. But with the development of technology and deeper astronomical studies, it has been shown that the Milky Way Galaxy has a spiral structure with its distinctive spiral arms.

This shows how scientific ideas and knowledge can change and develop over time and ongoing research in the field of astronomy and cosmology.

Source: alkaoun