Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => In the Media... => Topic started by: mickw on Jun 01, 2012, 08:09:42

Title: Hubble times Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy pile-up
Post by: mickw on Jun 01, 2012, 08:09:42
when precisely our Milky Way Galaxy will crash into its neighbour, Andromeda.
The pair are being pulled together by their mutual gravity and the scientists expect them to begin to merge in about four billion years' time.
A further two billion years on and they will appear as a single entity.
Our Sun's position will be disturbed but the star and its planets are in little danger of being destroyed.

More:   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18285583 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18285583)

& More:  Space.com (http://www.space.com/15949-milkyway-galaxy-crash-andromeda-hubble.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+spaceheadlines+%28SPACE.com+Headline+Feed%29)
Title: Re: Hubble times Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy pile-up
Post by: doug on Jun 01, 2012, 08:44:45
They are brilliant illustrations of the supposed night sky.....
Title: Re: Hubble times Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy pile-up
Post by: MarkS on Jun 01, 2012, 14:58:30
Lovely picture.

As it gets closer it will get bigger but will it get any more visible?  The surface brightness will not change so it will stil be a very dull object.

Remember it appears 6x bigger than the full moon in the night sky, so if our eyes were sensitive enough it would already be quite spectacular.

Mark
Title: Re: Hubble times Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy pile-up
Post by: mickw on Jun 01, 2012, 16:10:30
Quotebut will it get any more visible?

Nope, it's the UK, it will always be cloudy  :(