For other space news go to: http://www.spacetoday.net
Posted on 09/07/2009 11:35:33 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Though the Milky Way is taking a good beating from nearby mini-galaxies that sometimes slam into it, our galaxy is not likely to de destroyed by this process as some scientists had predicted, a new study finds.
Circling around the Milky Way are between 20 and 25 known satellite dwarf galaxies, which are smaller clumps of stars bound in orbit around the Milky Way by gravitational attraction.
Some pessimists predicted the Milky Way was doomed to a grizzly death by dismemberment if enough of these galaxies collide with it. In fact, scientists think many satellite galaxies have already rammed into the Milky Way, though so far it has endured.
A new computer simulation indicates that rather than tearing apart a galaxy, collisions with dwarf galaxies serve to puff up the host's pancake-shaped galactic disk. Indeed, evidence of this puffiness has been found in the form of rings and flares of stars around the edges of other galaxies' disks.
"Our simulations showed that the satellite galaxy impacts don't destroy spiral galaxies — they actually drive their evolution, by producing this flared shape and creating stellar rings — spectacular rings of stars that we've seen in many spiral galaxies in the universe," said study leader Stelios Kazantzidis, an astronomer at Ohio State University.
Though our galaxy may not be in danger from dwarf galaxies, astronomers do expect it to eventually collide with the nearest full-size galaxy, Andromeda. In a few billion years, the two spirals should smash into each other head on.
"The collision with Andromeda is a collision between two essentially equal-mass galaxies, whereas satellite bombardment involves encounters with much smaller systems compared to the Milky Way," Kazantzidis told SPACE.com.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
lol. I doubt that 9 of 10 DUmmies would even blame that on Bush
If Bears are involved it is Lovie Smith’s fault.
Alot of 2nd & 3rd generation stars in those dark areas about halfway out in all these spirals.
That means planets with metals, with metals neccessary for technological life.
‘Could be one or maybe a couple of civilizations out there.
‘Wonder if they perceive of God....
Why am I just learning of this now? This should have been something taught in junior high school.
It probably was. I was too busy trying to look up Carla's skirt to pay attention to teachers.
and Jenny's
and Belinda's
and Linda's
and Susan's
Oh, and Anna’s. Can’t forget Anna.
Did I mention Teri?
There was a girl I went to high school with whose name is Ann or Anna, though I might not be correct. She’s so far the most unreal girl I’ve ever seen.
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