Why Was It Difficult for Astronomers to Develop a Clear

question 45

Essay

Why was it difficult for astronomers to develop a clear understanding of the Milky Way until the last few decades?

---

Definitions:

Preferential Looking

A research method used to study visual attention and preference, especially in infants, by measuring their gaze direction and duration towards different stimuli.

Habituation

The process by which an organism becomes accustomed to a stimulus and therefore responds less over time.

Assimilation

The process by which individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage are absorbed into the dominant culture of a society.

Accommodation

The process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina, or adaptively adjusting one’s beliefs or thoughts in cognitive psychology.