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Andromeda And The Milky Way Might Collide Sooner Than We Think
Universe Today via io9 ^
| May 16, 2015
| Bob King
Posted on 05/16/2015 2:26:25 PM PDT by ETL
The merger of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy wont happen for another 4 billion years, but the recent discovery of a massive halo of hot gas around Andromeda may mean our galaxies are already touching.
Andromedas halo is gargantuan. Extending for at least 2 million light years, if we could see in our night sky it would be 100 times the diameter of the Moon or 50 degrees across! [the entire sky, from horizon to horizon, is approx 180 deg -ETL] Credit: NASA
University of Notre Dame astrophysicist Nicholas Lehner led a team of scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope to identify an enormous halo of hot, ionized gas at least 2 million light years in diameter surrounding the galaxy.
The Andromeda Galaxy is the largest member of a ragtag collection of some 54 galaxies, including the Milky Way, called the Local Group. With a trillion stars twice as many as the Milky Way it shines 25% brighter and can easily be seen with the naked eye from suburban and rural skies.
(Excerpt) Read more at io9.com ...
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: andromeda; astronomy; m31; milkyway; science; space
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Wasn't sure if I should have posted this in "Breaking News" or not. :) Anyway, a lightyear, the *distance* light travels in a year at its speed of 186,000 miles per second, works out to about 5.9 TRILLION miles.
1
posted on
05/16/2015 2:26:25 PM PDT
by
ETL
To: ETL
And then we’re all going to die?.....Again?
2
posted on
05/16/2015 2:29:16 PM PDT
by
PROCON
(CRUZing into 2016 with Ted.)
To: PROCON
Yes, who or whatever “we” are in 4 or so billion years from now.
3
posted on
05/16/2015 2:30:41 PM PDT
by
ETL
(ALL (most?) of the Obama-commie connections at my FR Home page: http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/)
To: PROCON
“... but the recent discovery of a massive halo of hot gas around Andromeda may mean our galaxies are already touching.”
The REAL cause of global warming!
4
posted on
05/16/2015 2:32:58 PM PDT
by
VanShuyten
("a shadow...draped nobly in the folds of a gorgeous eloquence.")
To: ETL
WE'RE DOOMED!!!
"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense." |
5
posted on
05/16/2015 2:34:50 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in Battle!)
To: ETL
There’s still time to prep, but don’t dawdle. Heed the fable of the grasshopper and the ant.
6
posted on
05/16/2015 2:36:57 PM PDT
by
Ken H
(What happens on the internet stays on the internet.)
To: ETL
Will the FTC approve the merger?
7
posted on
05/16/2015 2:39:25 PM PDT
by
TBP
(Obama lies, Granny dies.)
To: VanShuyten
Cause of global warming? Nah. They’ll be telling us this is a result of global warming.
8
posted on
05/16/2015 2:39:54 PM PDT
by
Teotwawki
(For a person to get a thing without paying for it, another must pay for it without getting it.)
To: ETL
Maybe we can shoot it down!
9
posted on
05/16/2015 2:41:50 PM PDT
by
BigCinBigD
(...Was that okay?)
To: ConorMacNessa
You have to admit — having another galaxy close enough to see like that would be very cool.
10
posted on
05/16/2015 2:43:05 PM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
To: ConorMacNessa
To: ETL
Somebody throw a rock and cause one of us to speed up?
12
posted on
05/16/2015 2:48:38 PM PDT
by
cripplecreek
("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
To: ETL
There goes the neighborhood.
13
posted on
05/16/2015 2:49:25 PM PDT
by
justlurking
(tagline removed, as demanded by Admin Moderator)
To: ConorMacNessa
WE'RE DOOMED!!! :Puts the salad back in the fridge and gets out the chocolate mousse.:
14
posted on
05/16/2015 2:52:31 PM PDT
by
Harmless Teddy Bear
(Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
To: justlurking
Can’t we find a way to blame it on either George Bush or the oppressive policies of the Zionist occupation?
To: ETL
We can measure the radial velocity (how fast it's coming towards us) with good precision but I don't think we have any way to measure the sideways velocity of something that far away.
It could miss us on either side with considerable margin.
Even if it does collide with us, the process will take many hundreds of thousands of years, actual star collisions will be rare.
Gas clouds will merge, we can expect a lot of star formations over the following millions of years.
It will be an interesting place.
16
posted on
05/16/2015 2:55:02 PM PDT
by
BitWielder1
(I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
To: PROCON
17
posted on
05/16/2015 3:05:00 PM PDT
by
skimbell
To: ETL; Yosemitest; al baby; Albion Wilde; Allegra; BufordP; EveningStar; Gefn; GunsareOK; ...
The merger of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy wont happen for another 4 billion years, but the recent discovery of a massive halo of hot gas around Andromeda may mean our galaxies are already touching.Man, those Andromedans sure do eat a lot of burritos!
DANG!
18
posted on
05/16/2015 3:09:32 PM PDT
by
Tolerance Sucks Rocks
(Brian Moore was an exemplary cop. Let his conduct be the example for Baltimore police to follow.)
To: ETL
wont happen for another 4 billion years... See, so there is still time for the Marxists to finally get it right.
19
posted on
05/16/2015 3:10:32 PM PDT
by
C210N
(When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
To: ETL; 3D-JOY; abner; Abundy; AGreatPer; Albion Wilde; AliVeritas; alisasny; ALlRightAllTheTime; ...
There must be a lot of Terrence and Philip types in the Andromeda galaxy.
PING!
20
posted on
05/16/2015 3:10:56 PM PDT
by
Tolerance Sucks Rocks
(Brian Moore was an exemplary cop. Let his conduct be the example for Baltimore police to follow.)
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