Orion Arm facts for kids
The Orion Arm, also called the Orion–Cygnus Arm, is a smaller spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy. It is very important to us because our Solar System, which includes Earth, is located inside it!
This spiral arm is about 3,500 light-years wide. It stretches for roughly 10,000 light-years in length.
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Why is it called the Orion Arm?
The Orion Arm gets its name from the Orion constellation. This is one of the most famous groups of stars you can see in the night sky.
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you can easily spot Orion during winter. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, it's a summer sight.
Many bright stars and amazing space objects are found in the Orion Arm. These include Betelgeuse, Rigel, the stars that make up Orion's Belt, and the beautiful Orion Nebula.
Where is the Orion Arm located?
The Orion Arm sits between two much larger spiral arms of the Milky Way. On one side, closer to the center of our galaxy, is the Carina–Sagittarius Arm. On the other side, further out, is the Perseus Arm.
The Perseus Arm is one of the two main, biggest arms of the Milky Way. Our Solar System is actually in a small "spur" or branch of the Orion Arm. This spur is nestled between the longer Perseus and Carina-Sagittarius arms.
Our Solar System's Home
Inside the Orion Arm, our Solar System is quite close to the inner edge. We are also about halfway along the arm's length.
Our home is about 8,000 parsecs (which is about 26,000 light-years) away from the very center of the Milky Way galaxy. We are also located in a region called the Local Bubble.
Images for kids
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A drawing showing what the Milky Way might look like from inside the Orion Arm.
See also
In Spanish: Brazo de Orión para niños
