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Spiral Arms

Regions of stars and interstellar matter that extend from the center of spiral galaxies, forming a spiral pattern; in the Milky Way, these include the Orion Arm where our Solar System resides.

Source: esa.int

APODs including "Spiral Arms"

Irregular Galaxy Sextans A

18/12/1999

Irregular Galaxy Sextans A
Image Credit: NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

Grand spiral galaxies often seem to get all the glory. Their newly formed, bright, blue star clusters found along beautiful, symmetric spiral arms are guaranteed to attract attention. But small irregular galaxies form stars too, like this lovely, gumdrop-shaped galaxy, Sextans A. A member of the local group of galaxies which includes the massive spirals Andromeda and our own Milky Way, Sextans A is about 10 million light years distant. The bright Milky Way foreground stars appear yellowish in this view. Beyond them lie the stars of Sextans A with tantalizing young blue clusters clearly visible.