A recent study reveals that the probability of a collision between the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way over the next 10 billion years has decreased to just 50%. This means that plans to avoid a catastrophic collision between galaxies may no longer be necessary.
Recently, research indicated that the probability of a collision between the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way (or the Galaxy that contains our Solar System) is now at 50%. This study utilized data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the European Space Agency’s Gaia telescope to analyze the movement of stars within Andromeda, thereby reassessing this galaxy’s trajectory. While Andromeda continues to move toward the Milky Way, the chances of a collision in the near future have significantly diminished.
In the coming billions of years, Andromeda and the Milky Way will still collide.
In this context, it is essential to mention the group of galaxies that the Milky Way belongs to, known as the Local Group. This group consists of two major galaxy clusters, with the Milky Way containing around 60 confirmed members, while the Andromeda group includes approximately 40 galaxies. Each of these galaxy clusters is believed to be gravitationally bound to their respective parent galaxies and are moving toward each other.
Two notable galaxies in these clusters are the Large Magellanic Cloud and Triangulum Galaxy (M33). Both are sufficiently large and have suitable trajectories that could alter the movement of their parent galaxies, potentially delaying the collision between the Milky Way and Andromeda.
Although there are galaxies in each group whose gravitational binding to their parent galaxies has not been entirely confirmed, M33 serves as a prime example. It is possible that it is merely an intergalactic visitor, pausing in our region.
Galaxy collisions are not uncommon in the universe. A prominent example is NGC 6052, first discovered in 1784 and later photographed by Hubble, demonstrating that it consists of two galaxies merging together.
While the probability of a collision between the Milky Way and Andromeda has been extended, ultimately, in billions of years, these two galaxies will collide and merge to form a new galaxy named “Milkomeda.” The fate of our Solar System remains unclear, but it can be predicted that it will be only slightly affected, as stars generally do not collide during galaxy mergers. Most of the components that make up galaxies are gas and empty space.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to enjoy the breathtaking sight of the Andromeda Galaxy filling our night sky just before these two galaxies collide.
