Why does the Milky Way appear as a concentrated, cloudy band when viewed from Earth?
Answer
Because we are situated within the galactic disk and viewing it edge-on.
The visual appearance of the Milky Way as a band stretching across the sky is a direct consequence of humanity's position within the Milky Way galaxy itself. The galaxy is shaped like a colossal, flat plate or disk. Since observers are located inside this disk, looking toward the thicker parts of the structure—the plane where the stars, gas, and dust are most densely packed—creates the appearance of a continuous, cloudy belt. When observers look perpendicular to this plane, either 'up' or 'down' out of the disk, the view encounters far fewer stars, resulting in a much darker background.
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How the Milky Way Got Its Name - YouTube
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