Final answer:
The Milky Way is the galaxy of which the sun is a member, and it is a vast collection of stars, gas, and dust. It features a band of faint white light observable in a clear night sky and has been a source of wonder throughout human history.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks, "What is the Milky Way?" The correct answer is: c. the galaxy of which the sun is a member. Our Sun is one amongst the many billions of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. This galaxy contains not only stars but also vast amounts of gas and dust, and features including spiral arms and a central bulge. The Milky Way has been observed since ancient times and has inspired many myths and legends. It's a cosmic island that harbors countless celestial bodies, and observing the Milky Way on a clear night reveals a band of faint white light that is due to a myriad of distant stars and nebulae encompassing the night sky.
From our vantage point, approximately 30,000 light-years from the center of the Milky Way, we experience a perspective that leads to seeing only a part of the galaxy. Nevertheless, this perspective influences many scientific inquiries, and the search for understanding the universe's character and evolution at both large and small scales.