In this video, we explore knowledge of the Milky Way galaxy, from the mythology of ancient sky-watchers to how scientists are mapping it from the inside out.

Ancient Greek philosophers proposed that the Milky Way might be a vast collection of stars, too dim to make out individually. But the first actual proof came when Galileo Galilei pointed his first rudimentary telescope at the Milky Way in 1610, and was able to see it was made up of countless stars.

In 1755, Immanuel Kant theorised the Milky Way was a large collection of stars held together by mutual gravity. Later, Uranus discoverer William Herschel attempted to map out the shape of the Milky Way in 1785, but didn’t realise large portions of the galaxy are obscured by gas and dust, which hide its true shape.

It wasn’t until the 1920s that Edwin Hubble provided conclusive evidence spiral nebulae in the sky were actually entire galaxies. This helped astronomers understand the true nature and shape of the Milky Way, and discover the size and scale of the universe around us.

Learn more about the Milky Way galaxy here.

View the original video here.

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