In which galaxy is the Earth located?

Earth is located in the Milky Way galaxy, which is a barred spiral galaxy containing millions of stars along with gas, dust, and various celestial objects. This galaxy is part of a larger group of galaxies known as the Local Group and is situated between the Andromeda galaxy and the Triangulum galaxy.

The Milky Way is characterized by its distinct band of light that can be seen in the night sky, which is a result of the dense concentration of stars in the galactic plane. This makes it the galactic structure we directly observe and study from our vantage point within it.

In contrast, the other options represent different galaxies: Andromeda, which is the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way; Sombrero, known for its bright nucleus and distinctive shape; and Whirlpool, which is famous for its interacting features with a companion galaxy. None of these galaxies house our solar system; thus, they cannot be the correct answer regarding the location of Earth.