The Northern Milky Way . ... Credit Copyright: Jerry Lodriguss ( Astropix.com ) Explanation: Many of the stars in our home Milky Way Galaxy appear together as a dim band on the sky that passes nearly over the Earth's north and south poles. ... In the north, all of the lights visible at night and all lights that created this image were emitted within the past few thousand years from within the Milky Way Galaxy -- except one. ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . ...