We are located in the Milky Way galaxy within the Solar System, which lies about 26,000 to 27,000 light-years from the Galactic Center. Specifically, our Solar System is situated on the inner edge of a smaller spiral arm called the Orion Arm (also known as the Orion Spur or Orion-Cygnus Arm), which is a minor arm located between the larger Sagittarius and Perseus spiral arms
. To summarize:
- Distance from Galactic Center: Approximately 26,000–27,000 light-years
- Location within the Milky Way: Inner edge of the Orion Arm (a smaller spiral arm)
- Position relative to major arms: Between the larger Sagittarius and Perseus arms
- The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy about 100,000 light-years across, and our Solar System is roughly halfway from the center to the visible edge of the galaxy
This location places us in a relatively quiet and resource-rich region of the galaxy, which is significant for sustaining life on Earth
