Comments on: Post-collision images of two galaxies https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/post-collision-images-of-two-galaxies/ Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:09:50 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: wayne https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/post-collision-images-of-two-galaxies/#comment-1529615 Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:09:50 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=109625#comment-1529615 Milky Way / Andromeda Galaxy Collision Simulation
Videos From Space (2012)
https://youtu.be/4disyKG7XtU
1:16

]]> By: Jeff Wright https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/post-collision-images-of-two-galaxies/#comment-1529008 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:45:46 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=109625#comment-1529008 They may collide again–forming an elliptical much later, as Milkomeda is supposed to do.

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/post-collision-images-of-two-galaxies/#comment-1529001 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:35:56 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=109625#comment-1529001 In reply to Max.

Max: My own guess as to why these galaxies appear unchanged is twofold.

First, they only grazed each other, according to the website. This was not direct impact, more like a fender-bender. Thus, the reshaping shouldn’t be as severe as seen in other examples.

Second, it apparently occurred relatively recently, only “millions” of years ago. It is quite possible there has not been time for galaxy distortion to set in.

]]> By: Max https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/post-collision-images-of-two-galaxies/#comment-1529000 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:29:06 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=109625#comment-1529000 That is correct, but in most pictures of galaxies colliding, one or both are scattered and misshapen even from close flyby. In this case both galaxies maintain their shape. You can even see the trailing arm of the smaller one still holding it’s shape as it passes near the galactic core of the larger one… I was curious if other such collisions in the same circumstance may have rotational velocities from rotating opposite of each other that keeps the galaxy collision influence to a minimum? (The inertia of traveling in the same direction on a different trajectory?) The picture just looks too coherent for a collision to have taken place without gravitational influences tearing things apart as most often pictured in other such close in counters.

]]> By: wayne https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/post-collision-images-of-two-galaxies/#comment-1528987 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 21:19:55 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=109625#comment-1528987 Max-
as I understand it; stars in our galaxy for example, are approximately 4 light-years apart, on average.
I assume this relative ’emptiness’ holds for other galaxies.

]]> By: Max https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/post-collision-images-of-two-galaxies/#comment-1528982 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 20:58:21 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=109625#comment-1528982 I find it curious that they were able to maintain the majority of their shape. Could it be because they both rotate in opposite to each other?

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