UPDATE:  SOLVED at 12:18 CDT by Sean

Is everybody up and huddled over your cup of caffeine?  Got at least one eye open?  Well, get that cortex cerebri up and perky, turn off the auto pilot, shake out the cobwebs (but don’t scare the spider), and come play “riddle” with me.

Today’s riddle answer is a “thing”, not an event.

It is composed of many different parts, but we often think of it as a whole.

It was not known per se to ancient man.

When the existence of today’s answer was proposed, it caused quite a storm of controversy even though…

… the idea of its existence was kicked around since the 2nd millennium BCE.

Study of today’s answer has attracted many of the greatest minds since antiquity.

You’ll see this, in whole or in part, referenced in literature quite often.

While the overwhelming majority of the mass of today’s answer is visible to the unaided eye, only a small percentage of its individual pieces can be seen without a telescope.

Today’s answer is home to a beloved diva.
..

The more we learn, the larger and more complex today’s object becomes.

We continue, even in this decade, to make important discoveries about today’s answer.

BY GEORGE, I THINK YOU'VE GOT IT!

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There!  That should do it.  I put up a lot of clues today, but remember; a clue can confuse as easily as it can clarify.  You know where I’m hiding, so come lurk with me.

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(you know I had to include a spider!)