How do we know what the Milky Way looks like? Do we guess from how the stars and planets that are visible to us are

Question: How do we know what the Milky Way looks like? Do we guess from how the stars and planets that are visible to us are layed out?
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Asked by skeletalParader to Daniela ?, ☣ Danna, Jonny, Juan, Lindsay on 14 Jun 2016.
- Lindsay Robinson answered on 14 Jun 2016:
  
  Hi skeletalparader,
  Obviously we haven’t been outside our galaxy so we can’t really know for sure what it looks like.
  You can assume that it’s unlikely to be too different to those around us which tend to be spiral galaxies. Far cleverer people than me have studied the way that the gases and stars in our galaxy move and agree it is likely to be spiral. Scientist have seen a bulge in the centre in the same way as other spiral galaxies.
  
  Science is all about building up evidence to get the clearest picture you can because you can never be completely sure you’re right.
- Jonathan Hunter answered on 14 Jun 2016:
  
  I think Lindsay has covered it. This is not my area, so have I cant add anything use here. Sorry!

Question: How do we know what the Milky Way looks like? Do we guess from how the stars and planets that are visible to us are layed out?