What feature has been identified in the Sagittarius arm that challenges the model of smooth, continuous spiral paths?
Answer
A break or kink jutting out at an unexpected angle
Observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope and the WISE mission revealed that the Sagittarius arm contains a noticeable break or kink. This segment of stars and gas appears to jut out at a different angle compared to the rest of the arm. This irregularity suggests that the spiral structure is not a series of perfect, smooth, and continuous paths, but rather a more complex system influenced by factors like companion galaxies, magnetic fields, and internal turbulence.
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