Why is Milky Way called Milky Way? Why is it not called Yogurty Way!!!?

Answer 1

it may be because milky way sounds better than yogurty way.....and also maybe because yogurt was not popular those days .......... nice question.....

Answer 2

The name Milky Way is as old as the Greeks. I must admit I was surprised by it when I first heard it.

The Milky Way is called the Milky Way simply because it does look like a stream of milk in the sky.

The ancient Greeks believed it to have been the breast milk of Greek goddess Hera given to Heracles, the kid of the god Zeus. Heracles was born of mortal woman Alcmene. When Hera was asleep, Zeus decided to let him get the milk of Hera to give him godlike qualities. Unfortunately, halfway through, Hera woke up and seeing some unknown kid suckling her, pushed him away and in doing so, spill the milk across the heavens. That is why the sky has a whittish trail the Greeks called the milky way. At least that is what the Greeks believed in.

Answer 3

Like most other ancient names, for stars and constellations, it is based on mythology.

There are many creation myths around the world which explain the origin of the Milky Way and give it its name. The English phrase is a translation from Greek Γαλαξίας Galaxias which is derived from the word for milk (γάλα, gala). This is also the origin of the word galaxy. In Greek myth the Milky Way was caused by milk spilt by Hera when suckled by Heracles.

Answer 4

Pogonofo is correct. In greek the Milky Way hasn't got a specific name. It is simply called "The Galaxy" or "Our Galaxy". The word galaxy is greek, actually meaning milky way, being the milk spilled from Hera's breast after Hercules bit her.

Answer 5

On some dark summer night, look almost straight up. You'll notice a ghostly white swath almost from horizon to horizon. To the ancients it looked sort of like spilled milk and so they called it the milky way. Later on, milky way turned into Milky Way as a name for our galaxy.

Answer 6

Because Milky is a descriptive term that can be applied to a variety of items from opals to cataract filled eyes. Yogurt on the other hand, is just a milk product, might as well say cheese way.

Answer 7

To the Greeks it was known as "Galaxies Kuklos" or The Milky Circle. Romans and their roads you know, changed it to "Via Lactea", "The Milky Road"

You can see the rest of the article I got this from at the NASA "Ask the Astrophysist" site below.

Answer 8

Greek mythology: Zeus had a demigod son named Hercules with a minor goddess, then asked true wife Hera to feed the baby and ensuring him god-status, but baby Hercules bit her nipple and a way of milk fell to the ground of Mount Olympus as Hera took baby to bed.

Answer 9

The Milky Way was named many years before Yoghurt was invented.

Answer 10

It is all about the money The Dairy industry paid somebody off along time ago to call a celestial body after one of their products to make it more popular.That is why you go to the store and buy a gallon of milk but only a ounce or so of Yogurt.It all has to do with a huge advertising conspiracy.To fight it tomorrow morning have your cereal with yogurt instead of milk and help fight the anti-milk revolution with me.

Answer 11

Cause we're humans, and the people who are supposed to be 'smart' come up with names like Milky Way and Uranus. And we wonder why Aliens haven't said "hello" yet? It's like us, trying to communicate with monkeys.....but I digress...