5 ms·
When the Milky Way collides with Andromeda, approximately how far would the stars overshoot? And how long would their overshoot distance take to peak?
by mehrdadn 7y ago
When the Milky Way collides with Andromeda, approximately how far would the stars overshoot? And how long would their overshoot distance take to peak?
- dredmorbius 7y agoOne computer simulation that should give a general notion: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4disyKG7XtU https://youtube.com/watch?v=4disyKG7XtU Most stars and matter will become part of the fused galaxy, "Milkomeda" is one proposed name. Some will be flung int intergallactic space. The Sun will have entered its white dwarf phase. Earth will either be a cinder, or have been subsumed by or possibly be nova ejecta of the Sun.
- mehrdadn 7y agoWow, thanks. That's such strange dynamics... their separation seems to follow a square wave more than a sine wave! Any idea why?
- htfu 7y agoThis is an entirely uneducated guess, but look closer at the spin over time, and consider the objects low density. Think timeline of a highly elliptical orbit, but with energy and work concentrated on angular momentum.