Why NASA Is Terrified about the Collision of the Milky Way and Andromeda

The universe has never ceased to bewilder astronomers, and there are quite a number of contradictions that defy even the most fundamental laws of physics, from the conflict between quantum mechanics and general relativity to the enigmatic Dark Energy that seems to be propelling the expansion of the universe instead of slowing it down.

As if these weren’t enough, a decade ago, scientists discovered yet another puzzle that is now regarded as a deadly accident waiting to happen. Our Milky Way galaxy is on a head-on collision course with its bigger neighbor, Andromeda.

Although this clash was predicted to happen in the next 4.5 billion years, some researchers are now concerned that the collision may already be underway. This begs the question: how is this possible, given that galaxies should be repelling each other?

In this blog, we’ll explore the shocking reason why Andromeda and the Milky Way are hurtling towards each other, and debunk some common misconceptions about this fascinating cosmic phenomenon.

The Heart of the Matter: How Black Holes Bring Galaxies Together

While the universe may seem endless, it is still expanding rapidly, driving various galaxies apart from each other like raisins inside rising bread dough. This immense expanse of space makes one wonder how it is possible for galaxies to be attracted to each other.

The answer lies in the black holes at the center of these massive celestial bodies. The black hole at the heart of our galaxy, Sagittarius A, and an undiscovered object within the P2 concentration of Andromeda’s nucleus are gradually pulling the two galaxies towards each other at an alarming speed of about 110 kilometers per second or 68 miles per second, as blue shift indicates.

The Heart’s Attraction: How Galaxies Collide Like Star-Crossed Lovers

This mutual attraction is not that different from romantic encounters between two individuals, where each looks beyond outward appearances and is drawn to the other because their hearts beat for each other.

The same is true for the Milky Way and Andromeda. The hearts of the two galaxies are irresistibly pulling them closer until they merge into a single entity. This merging is not that different from the collision course of an asteroid with Earth.

However, unlike most love stories between next-door neighbors, the tale of Andromeda and the Milky Way is more like that of star-crossed lovers. The distance between Andromeda and the Milky Way is approximately two and a half million light-years, a staggering figure that is hard to comprehend. If you imagine the distance between the sun and the earth, which is approximately 93 million miles, a light-year is equivalent to covering about 5.9 trillion miles or 9.5 trillion kilometers.

The galactic collision between these two cosmic bodies is expected to take place in 4.5 billion years, even though new findings suggest that the merger may already be underway. However, how dangerous is this collision for us and our tiny pale blue dot in the universe?

The Collision Course of the Milky Way and Andromeda: Should We Be Terrified?

It turns out that the collision course of the Milky Way and Andromeda may not be as disastrous as one might assume. If we could still exist in four and a half billion years, we would be able to witness an astonishing cosmic spectacle as Andromeda claims the majority of Earth’s sky for itself, and brand new stars fill up the night sky.

However, as the sun continues to grow, Earth will lose all its water, and the planet will eventually become a hot pool of gases. Moreover, new studies suggest that the merger of the two galaxies may already be taking place! Project Amiga is revealing that the collision is underway, and the result is a magnificent disaster where stars and stray matter are flung hither and yon, eventually settling to form one massive galaxy double the size of the two colliding galaxies.

The merger of Andromeda and The Milky Way provides us with a fascinating lesson about the paradoxes of the universe, the black holes that lie at the hearts of galaxies, and the attraction that brings them closer.

We might not know what the future holds, but one thing is sure: the collision course of Andromeda and the Milky Way is yet another testament to the infinite, mind-boggling complexity of the universe we call home.