  In 1785 astronomer William Herschel mapped out the shape of the Milky Way
star system using measurements he called "star-gages." Herschel's star-gage
method is described in detail, with particular attention given to the
assumptions on which the method is based. A computer simulation that allows the
user to apply the star-gage method to several virtual star systems is
described. The simulation can also be used to explore what happens when
Herschel's assumptions are violated. This investigation provides a modern
interpretation for Herschel's map of the Milky Way and why it failed to
accurately represent the size and shape of our galaxy.
