Containing a number of galaxies however smaller than a cluster, galaxy teams might be attractive wide-field targets.
When Andromeda collides with the Milky Way, it can set off an incredible wave of star formation and fill Earth’s skies with new emission nebulae and open clusters, as depicted on this photoillustration. Credit score: NASA, ESA, Z. Levay and R. van der Marel (STScI), T. Hallas, and A. Mellinger
Don’t look now, however a head-on intergalactic collision is in our distant future. From observations, astronomers know that the Andromeda Galxay (M31) — the closest giant galaxy — is transferring towards our personal Milky Way. Their mutual gravitational pull makes a galaxy merger inevitable, beginning some 4 billion years from now. Such occasions are widespread all through the cosmos. We are able to see lots of them in progress, usually as objects categorized as peculiar galaxies.
Simulations present that the gravitational dance between Andromeda and the Milky Way will distort the skies above Earth past recognition. Only a few of the celebs in colliding galaxies really collide catastrophically. As a substitute, the dominant type of interplay is gravitational. Streams of stars might be flung outward, creating tidal tails and bridges. And because the galaxies merge, the spiral buildings of each galaxies will step by step be erased till what stays is an elliptical supergalaxy — dubbed Milkomeda by researchers.
For extra on Milkomeda and the way it will change the view of any skygazers left on Earth, take a look at Avi Loeb and Thomas Cox’s story from our June 2008 issue.
Observe Astronomy journal, the world’s best-selling astronomy journal:
🌎 Web site: https://astronomy.com
📖 Subscribe: http://subscribe.astronomy.com
📘 Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AstronomyMagazine
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/astronomy.magazine
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AstronomyMag
Store Celestron telescopes:
🔭 Web site: https://celestron.com
Observe Dave Eicher:
📘 Fb: https://www.facebook.com/davidjohneicher
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/eicher.david
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/deicherstar
