What visual observation is made when looking toward the Sagittarius Arm from Earth?
Answer
It appears as a particularly dense and bright band of the Milky Way.
Because the Sun is situated in the Orion Spur between the Perseus and Sagittarius Arms, our viewing geometry dictates what we see. When an observer on Earth looks toward the galactic center, they are looking along a sightline that passes directly through the Sagittarius Arm, as it is positioned inward relative to the Sun. This direct line of sight reveals a concentration of bright, young stars and glowing nebulae that form a particularly dense and luminous band across the night sky, highlighting the arm's proximity along that specific viewing angle.
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What Is The Sagittarius Arm Of The Milky Way? - Physics Frontier
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