Durham University | via phys.org | 2018 Jan 03
Simulation of the evolution of a galaxy similar to our own. The movie shows a similar
evolution to what researchers predict for the collision between our galaxy and the Large
Magellanic Cloud. Although the chances are small, our Sun could be one of those stars
condemned to a long and lonely wander through the cold and dark intergalactic space.
Credit: The Auriga Project, ICC Durham Univ, HITS, MPA
New research led by astrophysicists at Durham University, UK, predicts that the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) could hit the Milky Way in two billion years' time.
The collision could occur much earlier than the predicted impact between the Milky Way and another neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda, which scientists say will hit our galaxy in eight billion years.
The catastrophic coming together with the Large Magellanic Cloud could wake up our galaxy's dormant black hole, which would begin devouring surrounding gas and increase in size by up to ten times.
As it feeds, the now-active black hole would throw out high-energy radiation and while these cosmic fireworks are unlikely to affect life on Earth, the scientists say there is a small chance that the initial collision could send our Solar System hurtling into space. ...
The Aftermath of the Great Collision between our Galaxy and the Large Magellanic Cloud ~ Marius Cautun et al
- Monthly Notices of the RAS 483(2):2185 (Feb 2019) DOI: 10.1093/mnras/sty3084
arXiv.org > astro-ph > arXiv:1809.09116 > 24 Sep 2018 (v1), 27 Sep 2018 (v2)