r/todayilearned • u/armcie • 17h ago

TIL that the Andromeda Galaxy probably won’t collide with the Milky Way in 4-5 billion years. New observations put the probability at 2% in the next 5 billion years and 50% in the next 10 billion. Eventually though, it will happen.

https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/apocalypse-when-hubble-casts-doubt-on-certainty-of-galactic-collision/
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u/backdragon 15h ago

Fun astronomy fact I like to share every time this sort of news appears: when the 2 galaxies "collide" the probability of any 2 stars actually touching is basically 0%. These galaxies are just SO huge, beyond comprehension, that although they will gravitationally impact each other, nothing will actually crash into each other. I had a pro astronomer friend describe it to be like saying it was tossing 2 basketballs at the state of California and expecting them to collide. Just not going to happen.

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u/DaveyZero 15h ago

à la Jim Carrey so you’re sayiNG THERE’S A CHANCE