Which arms are included in the consensus of the Milky Way's four major arms?
Answer
Perseus, Sagittarius, Scutum-Centaurus, and Norma
While the exact classification and number of spiral arms in the Milky Way remain areas of ongoing refinement based on new astrometric data, the scientific consensus generally includes four major arms. These explicitly named major structures are the Perseus arm, the Sagittarius arm, the Scutum-Centaurus arm, and the Norma arm. Our own Solar System resides within one of the minor arms, known as the Orion Arm, which is situated between these larger structures.
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