- 4214 - ANDROMEDA GALAXY - will collide with us? Galactic archeology reveals Milky Way's neighbor Andromeda has a violent past. Chemical analysis of stars in the galaxy has revealed its upbringing was more chaotic than our own galaxy's.
---------------- 4214 - ANDROMEDA GALAXY - will collide with us?
- The chemical
compositions of stars in Andromeda, which is the closest large galaxy to our
own, was used to reconstruct its past.
After examining the abundance of elements in Andromeda and considering
the fact this galaxy possesses both planetary nebulas , gas and dust blown
away from dying low-mass stars, and red giant stars, researchers concluded
that it experienced dramatic and forceful
formation.
-
- The creation of
the Andromeda galaxy was more turbulent than the origins of the Milky Way. Andromeda initially experienced a burst of
intense star formation that created the galaxy's foundation, with a secondary
period of star birth happening between 2 billion and 4.5 billion years ago.
-
- Although in many
ways Andromeda is similar to our own Milky Way, it's a similarly-sized, spiral
disc galaxy this research confirms that its history is far more intense and
dramatic, with bursts of activity forming stars in abundance, and two distinct
eras of star formation.
-
- The second
starburst period was triggered when the gas-rich Andromeda collided and merged
with another galaxy, also replete with gas, in an event that astronomers call a
"wet merger." The influx of gas in such a merger acts as the fuel to
kick-start yet more bouts of star formation.
-
- Andromeda isn’t
finished clashing with other galaxies.
Scientists have long thought that Andromeda experienced collisions and
mergers with other galaxies in its past, thanks to the positions and motions of
its individual stars, the stars started
out in another galaxy.
-
- By looking at the
chemical compositions of these stars, the team found two distinct signatures in
the disc components of Andromeda. One family of stars appeared to have ten
times more oxygen than iron, while the other group appeared to have similar
amounts of both elements.
-
- This understanding
adds a new dimension to the understanding of this galaxy’s past, revealing more
about the nature of the suggested collision and its effect on Andromeda’s
stellar population.
-
- By analyzing the
chemical abundance in different ages of stars in Andromeda, we can bring to
life its history and better understand its origins. Andromeda likely has a history of
violence, and its future looks to be equally turbulent,
with our own galaxy set to become part of its neighbor’s chaotic existence.
-
- This is because
the Milky Way and Andromeda are currently on a collision course, set to slam
into each other in around 4.5 billion years. This titanic collision will give
both galaxies a severe makeover, wiping out the distinctive arms of both spiral
galaxies.
-
- The stellar
population of the Milky Way and Andromeda, which is currently about 2.5 billion
light years away from us, will not slam into each other but will survive to be
thrown into new orbits around a new galactic center.
-
- Our own star, the
sun, and the entire solar system are likely to be pushed away from the new
galactic core, moving toward the outskirts of the resultant new galaxy.
-
- Oxygen is one of
the elements produced by massive stars. The others are neon, magnesium,
silicon, sulfur, argon, and calcium.
Oxygen and argon have been measured with planetary nebulae, but
Andromeda is so far away that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is required
to measure other elements, including iron.
-
- In coming years,
JWST and ground-based large telescopes will keep looking at Andromeda giving
further weight to the new findings.
-
-
November 8, 2023
ANDROMEDA GALAXY - will
collide with us? 4214
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