Where is the Sun located in our galaxy?

The Sun is located in the Milky Way galaxy, approximately 26,000 light-years from the galactic center. Specifically, it resides in a region called the Orion Arm, which is a minor spiral arm of the Milky Way.

This celestial positioning places the Sun about halfway between the center of the galaxy and its outer edge, in a region rich with stars and cosmic material. The Orion Arm itself is home to many other stars and is part of a larger structure known as the Orion Spur.

Understanding the Sun’s location helps astronomers comprehend not only the dynamics of our solar system but also the movement and structure of the Milky Way as a whole. The Sun, along with its planets and other celestial bodies, orbits the galactic center at an average speed of about 230 kilometers per second, taking roughly 230 million years to complete one orbit.

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