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ICRAR: Milky Way Ties with Neighbor in Galactic Arms Race

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:08 pm
by bystander
Milky Way Ties with Neighbor in Galactic Arms Race
International Center for Radio Astronomy Research | 2018 Feb 15
Astronomers have discovered that our nearest big neighbour, the Andromeda galaxy, is roughly the same size as the Milky Way.

It had been thought that Andromeda was two to three times the size of the Milky Way, and that our own galaxy would ultimately be engulfed by our bigger neighbour.

But the latest research, published today, evens the score between the two galaxies.

It found the weight of the Andromeda is 800 billion times heavier than the Sun, on par with the Milky Way.

Astrophysicist Dr. Prajwal Kafle, from The University of Western Australia node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, said the study used a new technique to measure the speed required to escape a galaxy. ...

Dr. Kafle said the research suggests scientists previously overestimated the amount of dark matter in the Andromeda galaxy. ...

The Need for Speed: Escape Velocity and Dynamical Mass Measurements of the Andromeda Galaxy - Prajwal R. Kafle et al

Re: ICRAR: Milky Way Ties with Neighbor in Galactic Arms Race

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2018 5:01 pm
by neufer
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