• Question: Is it true that eventually our galaxy is going to collide with another?

    Asked by icedancer to Iain, Jo, Leo, Mariam on 24 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Iain Moal

      Iain Moal answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      Its true! We are on a collision course with our nearest galaxy, andromeda, which is about 200 light years away. Astrophysicists believe that we will collide in about 3 billion years!

    • Photo: Mariam Orme

      Mariam Orme answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      You’re really interested in astrophysics aren’t you icedancer? As usual, I’m afraid I have no idea of the answer to this. I’m sorry.

    • Photo: Joanna Watson

      Joanna Watson answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      Crikey. I hope Iain or Leo answer this because I haven’t a clue.

    • Photo: Leo Garcia

      Leo Garcia answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      Astronomers estimate that, in around 3 billion years time, our galaxy (the Milky Way) and the Andromeda galaxy will collide, potentially causing a merging of the two galaxies. It is not 100 % certain that this will happen, and our knowledge will only develop with continual observation of the motion of Andromeda.

      If they were to collide, it would not necessarily entail destruction of the solar system. And besides, by that point in time, the temperature of the sun would have increased beyond the point where humans could survive on earth.

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