Q:  How do these distances compare to

         a)  the distance to the nearest star?

                   about 1 pc


         b)  the distance to the nearest star-forming region?

                   about 150 pc


         c)  the distance to the center of the Milky Way?

                   about 8000 pc


         d)  the height of the Milky Way's disk?
 
                   about 500 - 1000 pc