What indicators could scientists use to figure out how and when our galaxy will end?
The Indicators
Scientist have been observing all the disasters that could happen to our galaxy in the future. Approximately four billion years from now, our galaxy, the Milky Way, will collide head on with our large spiraled neighbor, Andromeda. Which will destroy the Milky Way galaxy. Our galaxy colliding with the Andromeda is the most likely way our galaxy will end. Scientists at NASA use the Hubble Space Telescope’s to get a deep view of the universe and the galaxies that are near us. Scientist believe that our solar system will out live our galaxies annihilation. They have measured how far the Andromeda is from earth, which is 2.5 million light-years away. Back in the early 1900, Vesto Slipher measured the radial velocity of the Andromeda, he calculated the speed at which the galaxy was moving toward our galaxy, which was 110 km per second, even at that incredible speed the Andromeda won’t collide with our universe for another four billion years.
What would happen?
The collision between the Andromeda and Milky Way would form a new larger galaxy, and would be a stunning spectacle to see. Rather than being a spiral shaped galaxy like its neighbors, the new galaxy would end up as a giant elliptical, which have the shape of ellipsoidal, and contain tens of millions and ever trillions of stars. This new galaxy would be called the Milkdromeda. Scientist speculate that earth and our solar system will survive the ending of our universe, however scientist can’t know for sure.
Why is this important?
the ending of our universe won’t affect us now, and no one really knows how it will affect the future of earth and humanity. But scientists theories that it will be a stunning visual sight, for what remains on earth. Our galaxy will no longer be a spiral galaxy, but will form a new super galaxy called the Milkdromeda. This is important as it will change how our galaxy works. The ending of our galaxy is very important, it will affect how we learn about our galaxy, but could also affect earth, and the solar system we are in. Scientist are still learning about the Andromeda and what will happen when it finally does collide with us. When this event does happen it will open many new opportunities to learn about our galaxy and space.
Facts
- The Andromeda is moving towards us at 110 km per second!
- the Andromeda is 2.5 million light-years away.
- our solar system will not be destroyed by the Andromeda, only our galaxy will.
- The new galaxy will be called the Milkdromeda
Cites Sourced
- Deborah Byrd and Theresa Wiegert “EarthSky” Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are already merging https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earths-night-sky-milky-way-andromeda-merge/ Published October 15 2020, Accessed November 03 2021.
- National Geographic “Science” Milky Way Has 4 Billion Years to Live – But Our Sun Will Survive https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/scientists-predict-our-galaxys-death Published May 03 2021, Accessed November 03 2021.
- Rob Garner “NASA” NASA’s Hubble Shows Milky Way is Destined for Head-On Collision https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/science/milky-way-collide.html Published March 15, 2021, Accessed November 03 2021.
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