Why do we call our galaxy the Milky Way and not something more technical?

Astronomers often refer to it as the Galaxy, but that's about as far as alternate naming conventions go. In the english language, Milky Way is IT. Other languages use their own names. Sweden for instance uses 'Vintergatan' or the Winter Street. There is no pressing need to standardize to a specific name. All names are equally pretty and informative.


Copyright 1997 Dr. Sten Odenwald
Return to Ask the Astronomer.