島しま宇う宙ちゅう

noun

galaxy; island universe

Astronomical term; historically used to describe galaxies as separate 'island universes' before the modern understanding of galaxies was fully established. Now somewhat dated but still encountered in older texts and poetic contexts.

• アンドロメダ銀ぎん河がは、かつて島しま宇う宙ちゅうと呼よばれた。

  The Andromeda Galaxy was once called an island universe.

• 島しま宇う宙ちゅうという言こと葉ばは、宇う宙ちゅうの広ひろがりを詩し的てきに表ひょう現げんしている。

  The term 'island universe' poetically expresses the vastness of the cosmos.