Figure 13-16 Our Galaxy Seen Face-on: Artist’s Impression The Galaxy’s diameter is about 160,000 ly and our solar system is a little more than 25,000 ly from the galactic center. The elongated central bulge is about 27,000 ly long and is oriented at approximately 45° to a line running from the solar system to the galactic center. The Galaxy’s two major arms, Scutum-Centaurus and Perseus, can be seen attached to the ends of a thick central bar, while the two smaller arm segments of Norma and Sagittarius are less distinct and located between the Galaxy’s two major arms. Our Sun lies near a small, partial arm called the Orion Arm, or Orion Spur, located between the Sagittarius and Perseus arms.