ALT Artist impression of a face-on view of the Milky Way spiral galaxy, based on ESA Gaia data. This model image shows what our home galaxy, the Milky Way, might look like face-on: as viewed from above the disc of the galaxy, with its spiral arms and bulge in full view. In the centre of the galaxy, the bulge shines as a hazy oval, emitting a faint golden gleam. Starting at the central bulge, several glistening spiral arms coil outwards, creating a perfectly circle-shaped spiral. They give the impression of someone having sprinkled pastel purple glitter on the pitch-black background, in the shape of sparkling, curled-up snakes. Several labels indicate the location of our Sun (6 o'clock), various arms and the galaxy bar. The Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy present at the top of the image is also labelled.