The future of our galaxy, the Milky Way, might not be as dramatic as once thought.  The Milky Way and Andromeda are on a path to meet.  This has been known for some time.  However, scientists are now saying it is equally likely that they will miss each other.   This is a significant change from previous beliefs.  It was once thought that a collision was almost certain.  Now, it seems like a coin toss.  What will happen when Milky Way and Andromeda get close to each other?  There are a few possible outcomes.

The first scenario is a direct hit.  This is very unlikely.  The chances of a head-on collision are less than 2%.  The second scenario is a close encounter.  If the galaxies come within 500, 000 light-years of each other, they might merge.  This is because they would lose orbital energy and be pulled together.  The third scenario is a wide berth.  If they pass each other by more than 500, 000 light-years, they might not merge at all.  They would continue to evolve separately.

So, what factors are influencing this galactic dance?  The Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, plays a big role.  Its gravitational pull affects the Milky Way's path.  This means the Milky Way is more likely to merge with the Large Magellanic Cloud in the next 2 billion years.  This is almost a certainty.  The influence of the Large Magellanic Cloud also makes a merger with Andromeda less likely.  However, more data and better models are needed to be sure.  The Gaia Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope will provide more information soon.

The Milky Way and Andromeda are moving towards each other.  This is a fact.  What will happen when they meet is still up in the air.  It could be a dramatic collision, a close encounter, or a wide berth.  Only time and more research will tell.  One thing is for sure: the universe is full of surprises.  The future of our galaxy is just one of them.

SPACE SIMULATION STUDIES

Galactic Dance: Will Milky Way and Andromeda Meet?

Continue reading...