More about the Milky Way

The [b]Milky Way[/b], or simply [b]the Galaxy[/b], is the galaxy in which the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System]Solar System[/url] is located. It is a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barred_spiral_galaxy]barred spiral galaxy[/url] that is part of the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Group]Local Group[/url] of galaxies. It is one of billions of galaxies in the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observable_universe]observable universe[/url].
Its name is a translation of the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin]Latin[/url] [i]Via Lactea[/i], in turn translated from the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language]Greek[/url] Γαλαξίας ([i]Galaxias[/i]), referring to the pale band of light formed by the galactic plane as seen from Earth (see [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy#Etymology]etymology of [i]galaxy[/i][/url]). Some sources hold that, strictly speaking, the term [i]Milky Way[/i] should refer exclusively to the band of light that the galaxy forms in the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_sky]night sky[/url], while the galaxy should receive the full name [b]Milky Way Galaxy[/b], or alternatively [i]the Galaxy[/i].However, it is unclear how widespread this convention is, and the term [i]Milky Way[/i] is routinely used in either context.