What is the structural role of the Orion Spur in relation to major arms?
Answer
It is a minor offshoot or bridge between the larger Perseus and Sagittarius Arms.
The Orion Spur is not classified as one of the main, massive spiral arms of the Milky Way. Instead, its structural role is much more localized and secondary. It is described as a lesser feature, essentially a minor offshoot or a bridging structure that connects or lies between the two major arms: the Perseus Arm and the Sagittarius Arm. This relative insignificance in scale is demonstrated by comparing it to the Sagittarius Arm; if the latter is a sweeping coastal highway, the Spur is merely a localized off-ramp where the solar system happens to be situated.
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What Is The Sagittarius Arm Of The Milky Way? - Physics Frontier
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