<prompt> Qedela le nkulumo elandelayo: Umthala i-Milky Way uwumthala ohlanganisa isimiso sethu sonozungezilanga, ogama lawo lichaza indlela lo mthala obukeka ngayo uma usuka eMhlabeni: umucu wokukhanya onamafu obonakala esibhakabhakeni ebusuku owakhiwa izinkanyezi ezingabonakali ngamehlo enyama. Igama elithi Milky Way lihunyushwe kwelesiLatini elithi , elivela kwelesiGreki , elisho isiyingi sobisi. Uma usuka eMhlabeni, iMilky Way ibonakala njengebhande ngoba isakhiwo sayo esifana nediski sibhekwa ngaphakathi. UGalileo Galilei waqala ukuhlukanisa ibhande lokukhanya libe izinkanyezi ngazinye ngesibonakude sakhe ngo-1610. Kuze kube sekuqaleni kwawo-1920, izazi zezinkanyezi eziningi zazicabanga ukuthi iMilky Way iqukethe zonke izinkanyezi ezikhona endaweni yonke. Ngemva kuka-1920  <response>: Ingxoxo Enkulu phakathi kwezazi zezinkanyezi uHarlow Shapley noHeber Curtis, ukubonwa kuka-Edwin Hubble kwabonisa ukuthi iMilky Way ingenye nje yezinkanyezi eziningi. 