Figure 22-16: Our Galaxy Seen Face-on: Artist’s Impressions (a) The Galaxy’s diameter is about 50,000 pc (160,000 ly), and our solar system is about 8000 pc (26,000 ly) from the galactic center. The elongated central bulge is about 8300 pc (27,000 ly) long and is oriented at approximately 45° to a line running from the solar system to the galactic center. (b) Our solar system is located between the Sagittarius and Perseus arms, two of the major spiral arms in the Milky Way.

(a: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt, SSC; b: NG Maps/National Geographic Creative)