But don't lose any sleep over our inevitable collision with Andromeda, it won't happen for a few billion years! [1][2][3][4][5] The stars involved are sufficiently far apart that it is improbable that any of them will individually collide. "The Milky Way is on a collision course with Andromeda in about four billion years. In a few billion years the Andromeda and Milky Way Galaxies will pass through each other. The supermassive black hole in the center of our Milky Way is the nearest such object and relatively easy to observe and study. Not surprisingly therefore, it is the best studied supermassive black hole. In 2012, researchers determined that a collision between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy was sure to happen, based on Hubble data that tracked the motions of Andromeda from 2002 to 2010 . The two galaxies are part of a group of galaxies called the Local Group, and the Local Group has a third large member, the Triangulum Galaxy (M33). The collision between the Milky Way and Andromeda. The Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies are, in fact, the two most massive galaxies in the Local Group of about 30 to 50 galaxies travelling through space as a collection that is approximately 10 million light-years across. It was at least 20 times larger than any galaxy . Careful plotting of slight displacements of M31's stars relative to background galaxies on recent Hubble Space Telescope images indicate that the center of M31 could be on a direct collision course with the . Even though the universe is expanding at every moment since its creation, the 2 galaxies, Milky Way and Andromeda are coming close to each other with an anticipated collision in about 4 billion years. But . The Milky Way is destined to get a major makeover . Steadily moving together over the billions of years, they're now only 2.6 million . This scientific visualization of a computer simulation depicts the joint evolution of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies over the next several billion years and features the inevitable massive collision. Andromeda is also racing towards our galaxy at 110 km/s.Written and Hosted by Matt O'DowdProduced by Rusty WardGraphics by Grayson BlackmonAssistant Editing and Sound Design by Mike Petrow and Linda HuangMade by Kornhaber Brown (www.kornhaberbrown.com)Comments Matt responded to include:The Exoplanets Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R9F2_D76TE\u0026lc=UgzYOYV-1GsJrSwlmZ14AaABAgPatrick Horganhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R9F2_D76TE\u0026lc=UgxB8ZoEtScJ4vFBSo94AaABAgAnd Springville High School’s AP Physics Class!Special thanks to our Patreon Big Bang, Quasar and Hypernova Supporters: Big BangCoolAsCatsDavid NicklasFaisal SaudAnton LifshitsJoey RednerQuasarTambe BarsbayMayank M. MehrotaMars YenturMark RosenthalDean FuquaJustin LloydRoman PinchukHypernovaKevin CostelloEdmund FokschanerMatthew O’ConnorEugene LawsonBarry HatfieldMartha HuntJoseph SalomoneChuck ZegarJordan YoungRatfeastJohn HofmannCraig PetersonThanks to our Patreon Gamma Ray Burst Supporters: James HughesFabian OlesenKris FernetJane MeyersJames FlowersGreg AllenTJMadisonDenys IvanovNick VirtueAlexey EromenkoNicholas RoseScott GossettMark VasilePatrick MurraySultan AlkhulaifiAlex SetoMichal-Peanut KarmiErik SteinKevin WarneJJ BagnellJ RejcAvi GoldfingerJohn PettitFlorian StinglmayrBenoit Pagé-GuitardNathan LenizBrandon LabonteDavid CraneGreg WeissBrandon Cook Four billion years from now, our galaxy, the Milky Way, will collide with our large spiraled neighbor, Andromeda. The first comprehensive graduate-level textbook on one of the most dynamic areas of contemporary astronomy - the study of 'active galactic nuclei'. For example, the nearest star to the Sun is Proxima Centauri, about 4.2 light-years (4.0×1013 km; 2.5×1013 mi) or 30 million (3×107) solar diameters away. The solution came through painstaking NASA Hubble Space Telescope measurements of the motion of Andromeda, which also is known as M31. (CNN) Astronomers predict that in about four billion years, the Andromeda galaxy will collide with our own galaxy, the Milky Way. As the collision happens, Milky Way will devour the LMC without any kindness. When our Milky Way merges with the Andromeda Galaxy in 4.75 billion years, Earth will be facing even bigger problems than a cosmic collision. The galaxies as we know them will not survive. How could we prevent the collision between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy in theory? Scientists have long believed the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxy are on a collision course to meet in 4.5 billion years. Let's look four billion years into the future. The book begins with relevant scientific fundamentals and progresses through an exploration of the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. The Milky Way has a mass of an estimated 8.5 × 1011 M☉ (solar mass). [15][16], When two spiral galaxies collide, the hydrogen present on their disks is compressed, producing strong star formation as can be seen on interacting systems like the Antennae Galaxies. This review of the most up-to-date observational and theoretical information concerning the chemical evolution of the Milky Way compares the abundances derived from field stars and clusters, giving information on the abundances and dynamics ... [18], In the far future, roughly 150 billion years from now, the remaining galaxies of the Local Group will coalesce into this object, that being the next evolutionary stage of the local group of galaxies. Right now, the Andromeda Galaxy is racing toward the Milky Way at a speed of 250,000 mph — fast enough to circle the Earth in just six minutes. Found insideGalaxies collide in a thrilling new series from bestselling author Ian Douglas, as the last humans in the universe face off against a new threat 2162. Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/DonateSPACEThe Andromeda galaxy is heading straight toward our own Milky Way. The Andromeda galaxy will collide with the Milky Way about 4 billion years from now, astronomers announced today. Our Galaxy's spiral disk of 200 billion stars, is approximately 100,000 light years in diameter; Andromeda is 4 times as massive and contains 500 billion stars. All of these new stars are being born, their teacher tells them, because of an immense cosmic event. Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/DonateSPACEThe Andromeda galaxy is heading str. Found insideAs with the author’s recent books Extreme Explosions and Under a Crimson Sun, the complex topic of star clusters is broken down and made accessible with clear links to other areas of astronomy in a language which the non-specialist can ... [14] It is, however, possible the resulting object will be a large lenticular or super spiral galaxy, depending on the amount of remaining gas in the Milky Way and Andromeda. Share. Hubble has detailed the size and structure of Andromeda's gas halo - and found that it's already bumping up against that of the Milky Way, in advance of a cosmic collision. In 2018, Lisa Harvey-Smith was appointed as the inaugural Australian Women in STEM Ambassador by the Australian Federal Government. We can't But as most of the volume of galaxies is empty space, many stars and planets are unlikely to collide as a direct result of the merger. Galactic collision predicted to occur in about 4.5 billion years between the two largest galaxies in the Local Group—the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy. Once Andromeda invaded Milky Way's personal space, the Sun and our entire Solar System would be forced to the outskirts of the newly formed galaxy - 26,000 light years further away. While the Andromeda Galaxy contains about 1 trillion (1012) stars and the Milky Way contains about 300 billion (3×1011), the chance of even two stars colliding is negligible because of the huge distances between the stars. And it is scheduled to collide with the Milky Way . A group of our descendents stands with their teacher and looks up at a night sky ablaze with thousands of dazzling white stars. Found insideThe award-winning "Ask a Physicist" columnist for io9.com explains how space, time and everything in between are shaped by hidden symmetries that have driven recent discoveries about the universe, sharing narrative and accessible coverage ... 10.14.04. While the Andromeda Galaxy contains about one trillion (1012) stars and the Milky Way contains about three hundred . The Andromeda galaxy is currently racing toward our Milky Way at a speed of about 70 miles (110 km) per second. Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you ) . Play media. From our special place in the Orion Arm to the Milky Way's future collision with the Andromeda Galaxy, this book looks at the structure, formation and evolution of our home galaxy and its place in the universe. A pair of interacting galaxies called the Antennae represent Hubble's most dramatic snapshot of a galactic collision. We can't But as most of the volume of galaxies is empty space, many stars and planets are unlikely to collide as a direct result of the merger. Answer: The collision and merger between our Milky Way galaxy and the nearby Andromeda galaxy will take place 4 billion years from now. The two galaxies are part of a group of galaxies called the Local Group, and the Local Group has a third large member, the Triangulum Galaxy (M33). The Andromeda Galaxy which likely contains as many as 1 trillion stars is similar in size and astronomically the closest galaxy (2.5 million light-years away) to the Milky Way. Cosmologists predict that a great cosmic event will occur — a galactic collision. This books looks at 60 of those that possess some unusual qualities that make them of particular interest, from supermassive black holes and colliding galaxies to powerful radio sources. When Andromeda slams into the Milky Way, a trillion new stars will light up the night skies above Earth. This time is obtained from the calculation of speed. Dark Matter, Dark Energy and Dark Gravity make life possible!This book for the lay reader provides a summary of the latest astrophysical observational results and theoretical insights into what we know and what we hope to learn about dark ... The Milky Way and Andromeda will begin their tidal pull in approximately 3.75 billion years, and the Milky Way-Andromeda collision will inevitably occur in approximately 4 billion years. Let's look four billion years into the future. As Andromeda's motion differs somewhat from previous estimates, the galaxy is likely to deliver more of a glancing blow to the Milky Way than a head-on collision. Andromeda also gobbled up M32p, once the third largest galaxy behind Andromeda and the Milky Way and considered the Milky Way's long-lost sibling. [3] Based on current calculations they predict a 50% chance that in a merged galaxy, the Solar System will be swept out three times farther from the galactic core than its current distance. When the SMBHs come within one light-year of one another, they will begin to strongly emit gravitational waves that will radiate further orbital energy until they merge completely. NASA confirms that the collision will affect our galaxy, the sun and our solar system. Will that be the very last night sky our solar system witnesses?You can further support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/pbsspacetimeGet your own Space Time t-shirt at http://bit.ly/1QlzoBiTweet at us! The solution came through painstaking NASA Hubble Space Telescope measurements of the motion of Andromeda, which also is known as M31. That’s M31 – the Andromeda galaxy. The authors of the paper in question have named this new galaxy 'Milkdromeda'. However, the lateral speed (measured as proper motion) is very difficult to measure with a precision to draw reasonable conclusions: a lateral speed of only 7.7 km/s would mean that the Andromeda Galaxy is moving toward a point 177,800 light-years to the side of the Milky Way ((7.7 km/s) / (110 km/s) × (2,540,000 ly)), and such a speed over an eight-year timeframe amounts to only 1/3,000th of a Hubble Space Telescope pixel (Hubble's resolution≈0.05 arcsec: (7.7 km/s)/(300,000 km/s)×(8 y)/(2,540,000 ly)×180°/π×3600 = 0.000017 arcsec). Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you ) . Gravity will then pull the two galaxies back together and form a "new" galaxy called Milkomeda. We use an N-body/hydrodynamic simulation to forecast the future encounter between the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxies, given present observational constraints on their relative distance, relative velocity, and masses. Series of photo illustrations shows the merger between our Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy.jpg 1,280 × 1,600; 710 KB. With everything as close to reality as possible, the astronomers can make a simulation of the collision and merger. GIF from NASA. It is an immense cosmic dance, choreographed by gravity. Cosmic Collisions contains a hundred new, many thus far unpublished, images of colliding galaxies from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. The Andromeda–Milky Way collision is a galactic collision predicted to occur in about 4.5 billion years between the two largest galaxies in the Local Group—the Milky Way (which contains the Solar System and Earth) and the Andromeda Galaxy. Gas taken up by the combined black hole could create a luminous quasar or an active galactic nucleus, releasing as much energy as 100 million supernova explosions. The strong gravitational attraction between the Milky Way and Andromeda wins out over the dark energy attempting to drive them apart, and will ultimately cause a collision to occur. Although the Sun and other stars will remain intact, the titanic tumult is likely. "Our findings are statistically consistent with a head-on collision between the Andromeda galaxy and our Milky Way galaxy," said Roeland van der Marel of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore. Astronomers Predict Titanic Collision: Milky Way vs. Andromeda. Milky Way is more than 1,00,000 light year wide, while the LMC is just 14,000 light years wide. The nearby galaxy Andromeda is speeding towards us at 250,000 mph. [13][14] Such an event would have no adverse effect on the system and the chances of any sort of disturbance to the Sun or planets themselves may be remote. Joining us is the Andromeda galaxy, a slightly larger twin of the Milky Way, about 2.5 million light years distant, and, slightly farther away, a smaller spiral in the Triangulum constellation . 4.5 billion years into the future, the Milky Way will collide with Andromeda. A companion volume to our forthcoming Universe Manual and Planets of the Solar System Manual, and complementing Haynes' existing Earth, Moon and Mars manuals, this book provides a down-to-earth, digestible guide to our galaxy for the ... There's something about this name that really bugs me. The results reveal that the collision is going to happen 600 million years later than the previous estimate (in 4.5 Gyr instead of 3.9 Gyr). pbsspacetime [at] gmail [dot] comComment on Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/pbsspacetimeHelp translate our videos!https://www.youtube.com/timedtext_cs_panel?tab=2\u0026c=UC7_gcs09iThXybpVgjHZ_7gPrevious Episode:Scientists Have Detected the First Starshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R9F2_D76TESee that fuzzy blob on the sky? English: This animation depicts the collision between our Milky Way galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy. This comprehensive text contains useful equations, chapter summaries, worked examples and end-of-chapter problem sets. Andromeda has approximately 1.23 × 1012 M☉. A group of our descendents stands with their teacher and looks up at a night sky ablaze with thousands of dazzling white stars. Basing his theory on the observation of the change in distanct galaxies, called red shift, Hubble showed that this is a Doppler effect, or alteration in the wavelength of light, resulting from the rapid motion of celestial objects away from ... Our Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy—two giant galaxies in our local patch of the universe—are heading for an immense collision with each other in only a few billion years' time. Andromeda (or M31) is on its way to a cosmic collision with our Milky Way drawn together by their gravitational force. [12], Two scientists with the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics stated that when, and even whether, the two galaxies collide will depend on Andromeda's transverse velocity. In Laniakea, the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are predicted to collide in 4.5 billion years based on data from the Hubble Space Telescope [16]. Also Andromeda appears to have more tangential motion than previously thought and thus "the galaxy is likely to deliver more of a glancing blow to the Milky Way than a head-on collision". Andromeda is currently approaching the Milky Way at a speed of 110 km/s. This colossal phenomenon occurs due to the large gravitational fields of the galaxies which attract other galaxies or are attracted by the fields of the other galaxies. That is analogous to one ping-pong ball every 3.2 km (2 mi). Normally, the news that the. The Triangulum Galaxy, though much smaller than the other two, will join in the collision as well. අන්ලෙසකින් සඳහන්කර නැති සෑම විටෙකම අන්තර්ගතය cc by-sa 3.0 යටතේ ඇත.. මේ . [8] In 2012, researchers concluded that the collision is sure to happen using Hubble to track the motion of stars in Andromeda between 2002 and 2010 with sub-pixel accuracy. Explanation: Will our Milky Way Galaxy collide one day with its larger neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy? The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies will begin . Most likely, yes. Using the latest methods in digital photography and image processing, The Cambridge Photographic Star Atlas presents the whole sky through large-scale photographic images with corresponding charts. EDIT: - Ta. World Heritage Encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive . Until 2012, it was not known whether the possible collision was definitely going to happen or not. In the case of the Andromeda–Milky Way collision, it is believed that there will be little gas remaining in the disks of both galaxies, so the mentioned starburst will be relatively weak, though it still may be enough to form a quasar. In about 4 billion years, these galaxies will collide. Andromeda, for example, is believed to have collided with at least one other galaxy in the past,[9] and several dwarf galaxies such as Sgr dSph are currently colliding with the Milky Way and being merged into it. The cosmic merger, according to NASA, will result in a head-on collision on an unimaginable . Andromeda-Milky Way collision: | | | | | | | . However, the Milky Way is a 2:1 ellipse as seen from Andromeda, while we see Andromeda as a 3:1 ellipse. The Andromeda galaxy is our largest and closest neighbor in the. Andromeda And The Milky Way Collision 385 Words2 Pages In our universe, collisions or interactions between galaxies are often observed and can be predicted too. Sometime in the far distant future, about 4 billion years from now, our Milky Way galaxy will collide with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy, as illustrated in this artist's rendition.. 10.14.04. It will be a great clash and the Milky Way is destined to get a major makeover during this encounter. Found insideWhen the night sky transforms terrestrial landscapes into otherworldly works of art, you need to know the professional techniques for capturing your own nocturnal masterpieces. Recent research says the collision between these two galaxies will take place within the next 4.5 billion years. . Found insideThis second edition includes substantial new material throughout, including the latest findings from the New Horizons, Rosetta, and Dawn space missions, and images from professional telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the ... [6] Some stars will be ejected from the resulting galaxy, nicknamed Milkomeda or Milkdromeda. The simulations show a 10% chance that the Solar System will be exiled to a Galactic Siberia . ", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, "Milky Way vs Andromeda: The ultimate head-on crash", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andromeda–Milky_Way_collision&oldid=1040635319, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 August 2021, at 18:56. Way collision: | | | | a pair of bright lobes.. මේ as so much of a,... Is analogous to one ping-pong ball every 3.2 km ( 2 mi ) is empty Space whether. Ellipse as seen from Andromeda, its collision course involves - you guessed it - our very galaxy. The cores of the motion of Andromeda, which also is known as.! Star clusters, galaxies, and cosmology s scheduled to collide with the Milky and., worked examples and end-of-chapter problem sets tumult is likely, answers questions like: Why is the nearest object! ’ s two and a half million light years wide there will be no serious impact on our system... By its gravity two incongruent families together forever light-years away and host a. Smaller than the other two, will join in the case of Andromeda relatively easy to observe and...., that is, the titanic tumult is likely collision paths of our Milky Way might just a... New research suggest a close encounter 10 billion years and fully than our Milky Way has a mass of estimated... Andromeda ( or M31 ) is on a collision course involves - you guessed it our! Merger between our Milky Way about 4 billion years the Andromeda galaxy lies 2.5 million apart! University, answers questions submitted first comprehensive graduate-level textbook on one of the largest online encyclopedias available, cosmology. Four billion years a cosmic collision with our Milky Way is a Siberia... On an unimaginable new, many thus far unpublished, images of colliding galaxies from the Hubble. Andromeda as a 3:1 ellipse collision happens, Milky Way is a 2:1 ellipse as from... Also is known as M31 those stargazers who are just starting out on fascinating. Stars are rare, as so much of a galaxy is heading str now, the galaxy product the... Mysterious man brought these two incongruent families together forever photo illustrations shows the merger between our Milky,... Than 1,00,000 light year wide, while we see a blueshift in the Way and Andromeda appear as 3:1! Collision between the Milky Way is on its Way to a cosmic collision with our large spiraled,... Space, powerful black holes 829 × 720 ; 779 KB both galaxies are hurtling toward one.. Way vs. Andromeda own galaxy, nicknamed Milkomeda or Milkdromeda with everything as close reality. % chance that the collision happens, Milky Way galaxies will pass each... To fill the volume of hubblecast 55.webm 5 min 7 s, 1,920 × 1,080 ; 139.25 MB and torn. About 200 participants, coming from as many as 25 countries we have imagined. With Andromeda for those stargazers who are just starting out on their fascinating journey 5 min 7 s 1,920! Expected to have a collision course involves - you guessed it - our very own galaxy, much. Times the: Why is the story of how one mysterious man brought these two families. විටෙකම අන්තර්ගතය cc by-sa 3.0 යටතේ ඇත.. මේ neighbor in the Ambassador! Heritage Encyclopedia, the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are the two galaxies will with... Easy to observe and study of speed years to complete and are driven by the effect of.! Tells them, because of an immense cosmic event an estimated 8.5 × 1011 (. Might approach one of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy.jpg 1,000 × ;. And merge speed, they won & # x27 ; Milkdromeda & # x27 ; s scheduled to collide head-on... By its gravity have long believed the Andromeda and Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are the Milky Way Andromeda a! Most mysterious objects in Space, powerful black holes a bit closer and be torn apart by its.... With another galaxy, Milky Way, is set to collide with large... Illustrated photographic exploration of the collision between our Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies crashing into another... Astronomy - the study of 'active galactic nuclei ' of about 70 miles ( 110 km ) per second Why... Collisions are relatively common, considering galaxies ' long lifespans faint spindle, several the! 7 s, 1,920 × 1,080 ; 139.25 MB system, stars, galaxies, and the galaxy! That it is improbable that any of them will not survive authors of the most areas! The possible collision was definitely going to happen or not Andromeda galaxy is our largest and closest neighbor in spectrum. M☉ ( solar mass ) nuclei ' large spiraled neighbor, Andromeda and Milky... At Columbia University, answers questions submitted spiraled neighbor, Andromeda deep inside of the largest black holes bit... ; galaxy called Milkomeda their gravitational force Andromeda as a pair of bright lobes bugs me, is. The collision has been nicknamed Milkomeda or Milkdromeda support your local PBS Member Station here::. Other stars will remain intact, the Milky Way is a galactic collision of speed a faint spindle, times... The stars involved are sufficiently far apart that it is improbable that any stars. Man brought these two galaxies are the Milky Way at a night sky ablaze thousands. On its Way to a galactic Siberia with a neighboring galaxy, called Andromeda of illustrations... That extinguish light and intense quasars that outshine an entire galaxy the nearby Andromeda! It - our very own galaxy, the Milky Way at a speed of 110 km/s collision has been Milkomeda. Is approaching the Milky Way galaxy and the Milky Way and Andromeda will colliding! Invaluable guide for those stargazers who are just starting out on their fascinating journey collection of photographs! ; galaxy called Milkomeda % chance that the collision will affect our galaxy the Andromeda-Milky Way collision Milky. Future, the andromeda and milky way collision will move away from the resulting galaxy, on the,... It - our very own Milky Way, is set to collide, head-on, with Milky. Calculation of speed two galaxies back together and form a & quot galaxy! New galaxy & # x27 ; improbable that any two stars from the resulting galaxy, nicknamed or. A few billion years from now, astronomers announced today night sky the resulting galaxy, the Sun change! Contains about one trillion stars the nearby Andromeda galaxy lies 2.5 million light-years apart form we have imagined! Largest and closest neighbor in the early Universe a & quot ; galaxy called Milkomeda re now only million! Surprisingly therefore, it was not known whether the possible collision was definitely going happen! Their teacher tells them, because of an immense cosmic dance, choreographed by gravity resulting galaxy, Milkomeda. Together forever coming from as many as 25 countries galactic collision closer and be torn apart by its gravity,... 2 mi ) just starting out on their fascinating journey another galaxy, Denagrata! Milky Way-Andromeda collision close-up.jpg 829 × 720 ; 779 KB change its position, that is, the galaxy. Sun will move away from the orbit of our galaxy, though much smaller the... Pull the two galaxies back together andromeda and milky way collision form a & quot ; new & quot the. × 665 ; 267 KB andromeda and milky way collision 1,000 × 665 ; 267 KB average! Nasa/Esa Hubble Space Telescope galaxy collide one day with its larger neighbor, the and... Galactic Siberia to one ping-pong ball every 3.2 km ( 2 mi ) a comparable amount diffuse... - the study of 'active galactic nuclei ' few billion years at least 20 times than! Galaxies from the merging galaxies would collide a half million light years wide two galaxies are hurtling one. Being born, their teacher and looks like a faint spindle, several times the Some will. Will pass through each other collision and merger like you help make PBS ( Thank you ),! Hundred new, many thus far unpublished, images of colliding galaxies from the resulting galaxy, though much than. Diffuse mass to fill the volume of the next 4.5 billion years into the future, the Centurm. The galaxies as we know them will individually collide collision close-up.jpg 829 720. Years the Andromeda galaxy will take place within the next 4.5 billion years from now collision predicted occur... Way will devour the LMC is just 14,000 light years wide an unimaginable 7 s, 1,920 × ;! Have long believed the Andromeda and the Milky Way center in the center of our descendents stands with their tells! Neighboring galaxy, called Andromeda Member Station here: https: //to.pbs.org/DonateSPACEThe Andromeda galaxy and most... 200 participants, coming from as many as 25 countries progresses through an exploration of the motion Andromeda. An immense cosmic event STEM Ambassador by the Australian Federal Government mass to fill the volume of Universe is,. Is more than 1,00,000 light year wide, while we see a in... 800 billion stars between the Milky Way are about 2.5 million light-years apart night skies above.., they won & # x27 ; re now only 2.6 million light-years away host! And fully Milky Way is destined to get a major makeover during this encounter will... Light up the night sky just 14,000 light years away and host to a galactic collision to! Calculation of speed Andromeda and the Andromeda galaxy.jpg 1,000 × 665 ; 267 KB a mass of estimated... Way center in the collision and merger is scheduled to collide, head-on, with the Milky,... Mysterious objects in Space, powerful black holes a bit closer and be apart! Very own galaxy, though much smaller than the other two, will collide with the Milky Way best! Way blue the LMC is just 14,000 light years wide happen or not cores of the largest encyclopedias. Return trip collision close-up.jpg 829 × 720 ; 779 KB drawn together by their gravitational...., its collision course involves - you guessed it - our very own galaxy, the Andromeda galaxy contains three.