Science
Colliding Galaxies Explained
Explore the cosmic spectacle of colliding galaxies, how they forge new stars, and the fate of our own Milky Way in its eventual merger.
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What is it?
A galaxy collision is a major cosmic event where two or more galaxies are pulled together by their mutual gravitational attraction. Despite the name, individual stars rarely collide due to the vast distances between them. Instead, the galaxies pass through each other, while their immense clouds of gas and dust interact violently. This interaction triggers massive waves of star formation, known as a starburst, as the gas is compressed. Over hundreds of millions of years, the galaxies merge into a single, larger galaxy, often an elliptical one. The Antennae Galaxies are a famous example of this process in action.
Why is it trending?
Advances in telescope technology, particularly from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), have brought colliding galaxies into stunning focus. New, high-resolution images are providing unprecedented data on how these mergers fuel starbursts and feed supermassive black holes at the galactic centers. The topic also remains popular due to the long-predicted collision between our own Milky Way galaxy and our neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy, which gives the phenomenon a sense of local relevance.
How does it affect people?
While these events pose no immediate threat, studying them is fundamental to understanding our universe's evolution. They reveal how galaxies grow and change over billions of years, offering clues about the formation of our own Milky Way. The future collision with Andromeda, expected in about 4.5 billion years, provides a fascinating glimpse into the distant fate of our solar system. While Earth will likely be safe from stellar collisions, the solar system will be flung into a new orbit within the larger, merged galaxy, sometimes nicknamed "Milkomeda."