What perception of the Milky Way Galaxy did astronomers have in 1900?
A)They believed that the Earth rested inside concentric spheres, with the Milky Way stars fixedto the outermost sphere.
B)They believed that the Milky Way was one of billions of galaxies in the universe.
C)They believed that the Milky Way was the entire universe.
D)They believed that, because the Sun was at the center of the Milky Way, it was impossible tosee the rest of the universe.
E)They believed we were one of billions of galaxies in an expanding universe.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In 1900, astronomers believed that the Milky Way was the entire universe. They did not yet have the understanding that there were other galaxies beyond our own. This view was challenged in the early 20th century by the work of astronomers like Edwin Hubble, who showed that there were other galaxies beyond the Milky Way. In 1900, astronomers believed that the Milky Way was the entire universe. They believed that the Milky Way was a flat disk of stars with the Sun located near the center, and that all the other visible stars were also part of the Milky Way. It was not until later in the 20th century that astronomers discovered that there were other galaxies beyond the Milky Way.

What Perception of the Milky Way Galaxy Did Astronomers Have