Time Lapse Video Of Milky Way And Andromeda Joining

8bit writes: "Check it out! In 7 million years we will be in the Andromeda-Milky Way galaxy. Apparently galaxies have been joining together for millennia now, and not just on my computer screen either. We can only hope that the ozone layer is gone and we are dead before our galaxy joins with Andromeda, from what it says it'll be prety nasty. Let's all give a round of appause to IBM and their clustered computers that made this video. "

Re:Aren't we already colliding?

[JetJaguar]

Well, I've actually done a little work in this field, and anyone that predicts that there is a high probability of the solar system being disrupted by *any* extra-galactic collisions hasn't been doing their homework. The density of stars in any given galaxy is such that, there will be (maybe) two, that's two systems might be disrupted.

Even in the highest density regions of our galaxy, near the core, the stars a pretty spread out.

A better interpretation of the interaction is one in which the two galaxies sort of fall through each other, with a new core forming during the process.

Re:I think there's some speculation here

[JetJaguar]

I'm not aware of any proper motion data for the Andromeda galaxy. It's just too far away to be able to get the non-radial component of the velocity.

I'm with you though. Anyone that claims that M31 is going to collide with the Milky Way is smoking crack. Just because we're moving toward Andromeda does not imply that we will collide with it.

Aren't we already colliding?

[dschuetz]

Interesting that this has been predicted to "be pretty nasty," as I seem to recall reading a while back that the Milky Way is already colliding with a smaller galazy, located somewhere off in Sagittarius.

The Astronomy Picture of the Day has a picture (sort of) at http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap9 60204.html [nasa.gov]. Astronomers now believe that this galaxy [the Sagittarius Dwarf]is slowly being torn apart by the vast gravitational forces of our Galaxy.

Re:Typo! Major Typo!

[DJerman]

Sol will probably hand us an eviction notice by then anyway, so let's start work on the ark. That way we can watch from a safe distance :-).
--

Astronomers really should talk with each other

[XLawyer]

First, it is a really freaking cool video.

Second, though, the statement that life on Earth should survive the collision isn't really meaningful, since (according to the article) the collision will take place in 3 billion years, but (I am told) many scientists believe that in 500 million to 1 billion years, our sun will have become so hot that it destroys all life on Earth.

Have a nice day.

Supernova?

[hoss10]

So the sun will be dead by then won't it?
If we've managed to move to another star by then I'm sure we will be technologically advanced enough to survive

------------------------------------------------ -
"If I can shoot rabbits then I can shoot fascists" -

Re:Typo! Major Typo!

[Believe]

Actually the joining will be in less than 4 billion based on their numbers, and the Andromeda will fill our sky long before that. The REAL typo is:

We can only hope that the ozone layer is gone and we are dead before our galaxy joins with Andromeda, from what it says it'll be prety nasty

Damn Hemos, I'd give my friggin' arms to still be around when that happens! I only hope someone will develop near-light speed travel in my lifetime so I actually can still be around.

Gravitational Effects

[sacdelta]

Even if it is not on a direct path to the Milky Way, as they approach each other, the gravitational effects they have on each other will become greater and will draw themselves towards each other.

This may not cause them to collide, but it does greatly increase the chances of it happening.

Won't be that bad

[mrquinn]

Look at the density of stars in the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies. The odds that we will actually hit anything are about the same as the odds of me sprouting wings and flying. Astronomers have concluded that this will have little or no effect upon the solar system. But it will be pretty cool to observe.

I think there's some speculation here

[tesserae]

It's easy to tell that the Andromeda Galaxy is approaching the Milky Way (doppler shift alone tells us that), but Andromeda is far enough away that it could have a very large proper motion that would still be beneath the threshold of detection -- I suspect that it could easily miss us.

Is anyone aware of data which indicates that there is no significant relative motion of the Andromeda Galaxy and us, perpendicular to the line of sight? Or are Dubinski and Hernquist just assuming that the galaxies are on a collision course?

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Re:Wow! Great animation!

[tesserae]

Did you see the barred spirals after the first collision? It makes me wonder if the barred spirals that we observe are formed by the collision of a galazy with a less luminous but very massive object.

AFAIK, bars (along with lots of other detail in spirals, including much of the spiral structure itself) are generally thought [obspm.fr] to be the consequence of interaction between galaxies. I don't think it would require a "less luminous ... object" -- the colliding galaxies typically pass through each other, and if the approach velocities are great enough you can see the resulting disturbances long after the two have separated. (Besides, the most common place to find a galaxy is near another galaxy -- they do come in clusters, and gravitational interactions are common.

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Real Estate

[hartsock]

Buy real estate now! It's sure to go up in value when we have to compete with the andromedieans for the same space!!!

--// Hartsock //

Wow! Great animation!

[Anomalous Canard]

Did you see the barred spirals after the first collision? It makes me wonder if the barred spirals that we observe are formed by the collision of a galazy with a less luminous but very massive object. I don't think they say how many years the animation simulates.

Anomalous: inconsistent with or deviating from what is usual, normal, or expected

Typo! Major Typo!

[dbarclay10]

That's seven BILLION years. :) Please change that. For a second, I thougt that we(the human race) might actually have been around to see it - but I doubt it now ;)

Dave