Which galaxy and location can Earth's solar system be found?
A. Near the central bulge of the elliptical Milky Way
B. At the edge of the irregular Andromeda
C. In the middle of one of the Milky Way's spiral arms
D. At the tip of one of Andromeda's spiral arms
C. In the middle of one of the Milky Way's spiral arms
C. In the middle of one of the Milky Way's spiral arms
The correct answer is C. In the middle of one of the Milky Way's spiral arms.
To arrive at this answer, you can use the following approach:
1. Understand what a galaxy is: A galaxy is a vast system of stars, gas, dust, and other celestial objects bound together by gravity. Our solar system resides within a galaxy known as the Milky Way.
2. Know the basic structure of the Milky Way: The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy with a large disk-like shape. It consists of a central bulge, a disk composed of spiral arms, and a halo of stars and globular clusters.
3. Identify the location of Earth's solar system: The solar system consists of the Sun, planets, and other celestial bodies that orbit around it. Earth is the third planet from the Sun and is situated within the Milky Way's disk.
4. Determine the location within the Milky Way: The spiral arms of the Milky Way are curved structures that extend from the central bulge. Our solar system is located within one of these spiral arms, approximately two-thirds of the way from the center of the galaxy to its outer edge.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. In the middle of one of the Milky Way's spiral arms.