What vast system of stars appears as an avenue of light across the night sky?

Answer 1

In the Southern Hemisphere, it would be the Milky Way Galaxy, our Galaxy. There are many more Galaxies, no doubt many larger than ours, but the prominent one in the sky is ours.

The Galaxy is shaped like a large disk of stars, with a ball of stars mounted in the centre of it. Our Solar System is about where the ball meets the disk, and for Southern Hemisphere viewers, our night sky looks towards the centre of the disk and ball system. Which is a bit of good luck for southern astronomers.

[As a footnote, southern skies, where I live, are sufficiently clear that by moonlight one can read a book by the light of the Full Moon, and can also discern colours. Features I understand are denied Northern hemisphere folk. We have little atmospheric pollution. The reading is slow - only a few tens of words per minute. ]

Answer 2

The stars are as they are, but the patterns are only in our minds. We humans are very good at finding patterns; so good, in fact, that we see patterns even when there aren't any. That's what the constellations are; imaginary patterns in the sky.

We do the same thing with other patterns, such as patterns of clouds in the sky. The clouds are there - the pictures are in our minds.

Look at the picture below.

Answer 3

A bright streak in the sky is a metor and if yu see more than one then you are witnessing a meator that never entered the soalr system.

Answer 4

the milky way

Answer 5

A meteor.

Answer 6

asteroid