- The Earth lies in one of the spiral arms called the Orion Arm or Orion Spur which is 8,500 light-years long and about 3,500–4,000 lightyears wide.

- Our Solar System is about two-thirds of the way from the inner rim of the galaxy to the outer.

- It contains many young hot giant stars.

- Some astronomers hold this as a separate spur branching out of the Sagittarius/Scutum–Centaurus/Norma arm.