Perseus Arm

The Perseus Arm is one of two major spiral arms of the Milky Way galaxy. The second major arm is called the Scutum–Centaurus Arm.[1]

Structure of the Milky Way's spiral arms.

The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy with two major arms and a number of minor arms or spurs.[1] The Perseus Spiral Arm, with a radius of about 10,700 parsecs, is between the minor Cygnus and Carina–Sagittarius Arms.[1] It is so named because it is seen in the same direction as the constellation Perseus.

The local spur known as the Orion–Cygnus Arm, which includes the Solar System and Earth, may be a branch of the Perseus Arm, but this is unconfirmed.[1]

The Perseus Spiral arm contains a number of Messier objects:

• The Crab Nebula (M1)
• Messier 36
• Messier 37
• Messier 38
• Messier 52
• Messier 103

It also contains a star 100 times larger than the sun. AC130