[petuniasevan]

The amazing thing is that there were probably NO stellar collisions during this encounter;
only the gravitational influences distorted these galaxies.

As always, ask to be added to the APOD PING list OR
subscribe to the APOD topic (located in the General Interest forum).

[petuniasevan]

APOD PING!

[freeeee]

Please add me to the APOD ping list. Thanks!

[glock rocks]

i'm amused by the train wreck analogy.

well no, its more like two galaxies colliding! great pic. thanks.

[headsonpikes]

APOD ping list request!

Thanks.

[RightWhale]

Suppose the sun were to be flung out of the Milky Way by such a collision, say by an interaction with M31, would the change in the sun's neighborhood change conditions in the sun itself and on earth besides having far fewer visible stars afterwards and more stars during?

During the collision would planets fare less well than stars due to the passage of gravitational fields and a galaxy full of debris through the vicinity of the sun?

The heliopause is quite a distance out, but nowhere near halfway to the next star. Would the heliopause move farther out than its present radius of about 100 AU?

[Vigilantcitizen]

Due to the marathon work sessions I have been pulling in the last 10 days, I have been missing my daily APOD fix.

Keep 'em coming...