What critical distinction must be noted regarding Galileo's proof about the Milky Way's composition?

Answer

He proved the composition was stellar, but not that it was a galaxy in the modern sense.

While Galileo proved the composition was stellar, he was not discovering the Milky Way as a galaxy in the modern sense—a massive island universe—but rather seeing the ingredients of that structure.

What critical distinction must be noted regarding Galileo's proof about the Milky Way's composition?
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