Memoirs of the Unborn. Galaxy
Ninth story
Our galaxy
doesn't particularly differ from others.
Various
versions are suggested regarding the origin of its name, the "Milky
Way."
According
to one of them, based on Ancient Greek mythology, it was the milk spurted from
the chest of the goddess Hera, which never reached the mouth of the infant
Hercules.
According
to another version, it was a salty path used by salt traders.
There are
other versions, but they are more interesting for science than for the
uninformed reader.
Since names
in history are often given post facto, our galaxy appeared long before its
name. But judging by its appearance, it resembles both the Milky Way and the
salty path.
The Milky
Way includes the Solar System, where Earth is located, as well as other systems
with their centers, cores, planets, stars, suns, and moons.
Despite the
existence of borders in our galaxy, beyond which stretch the starry plains of
its neighbors, people still give the concept of "galaxy" the meaning
of infinity, forgetting that the Universe is infinite. We'll talk about the
Universe separately.
For
example, there are many brands under the name "Galaxy" - from
interest clubs, dating sites to the name of a whole series of mobile phones
from one of the leading manufacturers.
The Milky
Way has seen different times, both peaceful and wartime. Planets in the Solar
System waged wars among themselves. Sometimes they lasted for years, sometimes
for decades. When the desired truce between the planets came, conflicts began
on the planets themselves.
Our galaxy
also knew more extensive campaigns when the Solar System declared war on its
neighbors in the Milky Way.
Knowing how
destructive intra-galactic conflicts of any scale can be, the Milky Way tried
in every way to influence the conflicting parties, standing in their way to
avoid the formation of new crises.
But
sometimes more unpleasant events occurred.
For
example, in the year 2075, a major intergalactic conflict occurred when the
Andromeda Nebula faced an energy crisis, and as a solution, it collided our
galaxy with the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Fortunately, realizing the
potential scale of a Universal war, the most remote galaxy, UDFj-39546284,
rushed to become an arbitrator, offering its services to the galaxies involved
in the conflict. The conflict was resolved. Following the crisis, the
Intergalactic Energy Union was created, which henceforth helped allied galaxies
solve their energy-related problems.
The
Chronicles of the Milky Way also describe interplanetary, intersystem, and
intergalactic scientific conferences, folklore festivals, trade fairs, sports
competitions, and many other events in peacetime.
Our galaxy
could remember even more interesting events that could have happened if... it
was born. Unfortunately, the brilliant novel "The Hitchhiker's Guide to
the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams was never written, and the film of the same
name was never made. These works belong to the science fiction genre, which
means there was neither the galaxy itself, nor the Solar System, nor planets,
nor neighboring and distant galaxies. Thus, none of this could come to the mind
of the unborn writer. Because he was not born together with his unborn galaxy.
Our galaxy
does not particularly differ from others. Only in the sense that it was not
born. And about others, we actually know nothing.
October 26, 2014, Original (Russian) version.