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Milky Way: Difference between revisions
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The '''Milky Way''' is the [[wikipedia:galaxy|galaxy]] where the [[human]]s and the [[Covenant]] reside,<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 26''</ref> and is approximately 100,000 light years in diameter. It is a [[wikipedia:Barred spiral galaxy|barred spiral galaxy]] that lies within the [[wikipedia:Local group|local group]] of galaxies neighborhood, which is just a very small portion of the universe. Visible from [[Earth]] as a band of light in the night sky, the Milky Way is just one of many galaxies in the observable universe, although the sphere of influence of humanity and the other modern spacefaring civilizations is limited to only small portions of the Milky Way. The Milky Way is orbited by two small satellite galaxies known as the [[Magellanic Clouds]].<ref name="clouds">'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', ''page 268''</ref> | The '''Milky Way''' is the [[wikipedia:galaxy|galaxy]] where the [[human]]s and the [[Covenant]] reside,<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 26''</ref> and is approximately 100,000 light years in diameter. It is a [[wikipedia:Barred spiral galaxy|barred spiral galaxy]] that lies within the [[wikipedia:Local group|local group]] of galaxies neighborhood, which is just a very small portion of the universe. Visible from [[Earth]] as a band of light in the night sky, the Milky Way is just one of many galaxies in the observable universe, although the sphere of influence of humanity and the other modern spacefaring civilizations is limited to only small portions of the Milky Way. The Milky Way is orbited by two small satellite galaxies known as the [[Magellanic Clouds]].<ref name="clouds">'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', ''page 268''</ref> | ||
== | ==Description== | ||
[[File:Milky Way.jpg|thumb|The Milky Way seen in infrared from Earth.]] | [[File:Milky Way.jpg|thumb|The Milky Way seen in infrared from Earth.]] | ||
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy of either [[wikipedia:SBb|SBb]] or [[wikipedia:SBc|SBc]] classification on the Hubble Sequence. It has two major arms, each sporting several minor arms that stem off of the major arm. One of these major arms, the [[wikipedia:Sagittarius Arm|Carina and Sagittarius Arm]], is home to the [[Orion Arm]]. Splotches of intense star birth and formation can be seen in the arms. These areas are pink/red in hue and appear as wisps or clouds situated in the galactic plane. These are easily seen on any level featuring the Milky Way in the sky ([[Isolation]], [[The Ark (level)|The Ark]], etc.). | The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy of either [[wikipedia:SBb|SBb]] or [[wikipedia:SBc|SBc]] classification on the Hubble Sequence. It has two major arms, each sporting several minor arms that stem off of the major arm. One of these major arms, the [[wikipedia:Sagittarius Arm|Carina and Sagittarius Arm]], is home to the [[Orion Arm]]. Splotches of intense star birth and formation can be seen in the arms. These areas are pink/red in hue and appear as wisps or clouds situated in the galactic plane. These are easily seen on any level featuring the Milky Way in the sky ([[Isolation]], [[The Ark (level)|The Ark]], etc.). | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Prehistory=== | ===Prehistory=== | ||
100,000 years before the present day, the previous galactic community was dominated by the [[Forerunner]]s, a now extinct species that possessed extremely advanced technology and [[Ecumene|an empire]] that spanned a significant portion of the galaxy. Millions of years before the rise of the Forerunners, an even more advanced civilization known as the [[Precursor]]s controlled the Milky Way. Having reached the pinnacle of [[Technological Achievement Tiers|technological advancement]], they were believed to have significantly contributed to the evolution of life across the galaxy, even created several species, such as Forerunners and humans. Over ten million years before the present, however, the Forerunners [[Forerunner-Precursor war|rose up against]] their creators in defiance of their decision to bestow their [[Mantle]] on humanity, | 100,000 years before the present day, the previous galactic community was dominated by the [[Forerunner]]s, a now extinct species that possessed extremely advanced technology and [[Ecumene|an empire]] that spanned a significant portion of the galaxy. Millions of years before the rise of the Forerunners, an even more advanced civilization known as the [[Precursor]]s controlled the Milky Way. Having reached the pinnacle of [[Technological Achievement Tiers|technological advancement]], they were believed to have significantly contributed to the evolution of life across the galaxy, even created several species, such as Forerunners and humans. Over ten million years before the present, however, the Forerunners [[Forerunner-Precursor war|rose up against]] their creators in defiance of their decision to bestow their [[Mantle]] on humanity,<ref name="primordium">'''[[Halo: Primordium]]'''</ref> and seemingly ended their rule in the galaxy after destroying their last remnants in the [[Large Magellanic Cloud]].<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 181-182''</ref> | ||
The Forerunners, originating from [[Ghibalb]] in the [[Orion complex]], ruled a large portion of the galaxy for millions of years, affecting the development of other species as they saw fit. Around [[150,000 BCE]], [[human]]ity, still composed of many species, arose from their homeworld Earth, known as "Erde-Tyrene" at the time. They mastered interstellar travel and began to move [[Prehistoric human civilization|their civilization]] along the Orion Arm of the Milky Way. They later [[Human-San 'Shyuum alliance|allied]] with the [[San 'Shyuum]] species, forming a prosperous interstellar empire based on the planet [[Charum Hakkor]]. Around [[110,000 BCE]], humanity and their San 'Shyuum allies came into contact with the Flood, a sentient parasite supposedly originating from the [[ | The Forerunners, originating from [[Ghibalb]] in the [[Orion complex]], ruled a large portion of the galaxy for millions of years, affecting the development of other species as they saw fit. Around [[150,000 BCE]], [[human]]ity, still composed of many species, arose from their homeworld Earth, known as "Erde-Tyrene" at the time. They mastered interstellar travel and began to move [[Prehistoric human civilization|their civilization]] along the Orion Arm of the Milky Way. They later [[Human-San 'Shyuum alliance|allied]] with the [[San 'Shyuum]] species, forming a prosperous interstellar empire based on the planet [[Charum Hakkor]]. Around [[110,000 BCE]], humanity and their San 'Shyuum allies came into contact with the Flood, a sentient parasite supposedly originating from the [[Large Magellanic Cloud]].<ref name="clouds"/> Hundreds of systems were lost to the parasite in the [[Human-Flood war|resulting conflict]]. Meanwhile, humanity's aggressive expansion and the perceived violations of the [[Mantle]] prompted the Forerunners to take action and begin [[human-Forerunner wars|a war]] against humanity. Although the Flood later withdrew and seemingly died out from the galaxy, it had already weakened the humans enough to allow the Forerunners to emerge victorious.<ref name="cryptum">'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'''</ref> | ||
Following the war in approximately [[109,000 BCE]], the Forerunners dismantled humanity's civilization, regressing them into a [[Technological Achievement Tiers|Tier 7 species]]. The remaining humans were devolved and exiled to their homeworld, where they slowly began to redevelop a primitive civilization under the tutelage of the Forerunner [[Lifeshaper]], the [[Librarian]].<ref name="cryptum"/> | Following the war in approximately [[109,000 BCE]], the Forerunners dismantled humanity's civilization, regressing them into a [[Technological Achievement Tiers|Tier 7 species]]. The remaining humans were devolved and exiled to their homeworld, where they slowly began to redevelop a primitive civilization under the tutelage of the Forerunner [[Lifeshaper]], the [[Librarian]].<ref name="cryptum"/> | ||
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===Orion Arm=== | ===Orion Arm=== | ||
{{Main|Orion Arm}} | {{Main|Orion Arm}} | ||
The Milky Way, and the [[Orion Arm]] in particular, has a large number of inhabited or, at least, habitable, planets within it, with the [[Unified Earth Government]] and the [[Covenant]] both maintaining distinct territories of their own. Other planets and systems were once home to the now-extinct [[Forerunner]]s, whose interstellar empire spanned the galaxy until their disappearance | The Milky Way, and the [[Orion Arm]] in particular, has a large number of inhabited or, at least, habitable, planets within it, with the [[Unified Earth Government]] and the [[Covenant]] both maintaining distinct territories of their own. Other planets and systems were once home to the now-extinct [[Forerunner]]s, whose interstellar empire spanned the galaxy until their disappearance, as well as the contemporary empires of other species, including [[prehistoric human civilization|humanity]] and the [[San 'Shyuum]]. | ||
*[[Human colonies#List of known colonies|Human systems and worlds]] {{C|[[Prehistoric human civilization#Sphere of influence|prehistoric humans]]}} | |||
*[[Covenant#Known Covenant worlds|Covenant systems and worlds]] | |||
*[[Ecumene#Known regions, systems and worlds|Forerunner systems and worlds]] | |||
{{Clear}} | |||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*The only engagement or conflict to take place "outside" the Milky Way in the modern times is the [[Battle of Installation 00]]. Two other cases of extragalactic conflict are known to have occurred in the distant past; the [[Battle of the greater Ark]] in the final days of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]] and the later stages of the [[Forerunner-Precursor war]] over ten million years earlier. | *The only engagement or conflict to take place "outside" the Milky Way in the modern times is the [[Battle of Installation 00]]. Two other cases of extragalactic conflict are known to have occurred in the distant past; the [[Battle of the greater Ark]] in the final days of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]] and the later stages of the [[Forerunner-Precursor war]] over ten million years earlier. | ||