Surprise Discovery Shows We Have Been Totally Wrong About The Size of Andromeda Galaxy

[Judi Lynn]

Surprise Discovery Shows We Have Been Totally Wrong About The Size of Andromeda Galaxy
Whaaaat?

MICHELLE STARR 15 FEB 2018

A new technique for measuring the mass of galaxies has been applied to our closest galactic neighbour - and it has found that the Andromeda galaxy is roughly the same size as the Milky Way, and not two to three times bigger as was previously thought.

This means, when the two galaxies merge in about 4 billion years' time, the Milky Way won't be fully consumed by the Andromeda galaxy as previous models suggested.

Led by astrophysicist Prajwal Kafle from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, the team found that the mass of the Andromeda galaxy is around 800 billion times the mass of the Sun, a measurement also known as a solar mass.

It's pretty hard to measure the physical dimensions of our own galaxy from the inside, but astronomers have been able to calculate its mass - around 800 billion to 1.2 trillion solar masses, the researchers stated in their paper.

More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/andromeda-galaxy-much-smaller-than-thought-same-size-milky-way

[Angry Dragon]

1. KICK

[orangecrush]

2. Always enjoy your science posts!

They are always worthwhile, and I learn something every time!

[mikeysnot]

6. I concur

!!!!

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. It is the most distant object that can be viewed with the naked eye

2.5+ million light years from earth. In dark skies it appears as a fuzzy patch of light larger than the full Moon. Not hard to find if you know where to look.



http://earthsky.org/tonight/find-the-andromeda-galaxy-in-autumn

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Possibly! Some people may be able to see the Triangulum Galaxy on dark nights of exceptional seeing.

The Triangulum Galaxy (M33) is ~2.7 LY from Earth, so slightly farther than the AG, but fainter. Triangulum is a tiny constellation right next to Andromeda -- if Andromeda had a short tail, the TG would be on it. M31 is on her knee, in the usual depiction.



http://earthsky.org/clusters-nebulae-galaxies/triangulum-galaxy-m33-a-binocular-challenge

[Wounded Bear]

4. K & R...

Thanks for the link!

[Old Enough 2]

7. GET ADVANCED TICKETING FOR THIS EVENT AT FANDANGO

Paid for advanced seating and a free bag of popcorn. Don't want to miss this event. Understand this is rarer that two Blue Moons and a Lunar Eclipse.


WAIT A MINUTE......... mmmmmm.....did you say FOUR Billion YEARS???????


Damn it! No wonder my degree from Trump University is worthless!!!!!

[keithbvadu2]

9. I'm a pretty patient guy... I can wait.

[tymorial]

10. Well if you can find a man or woman with a big blue box

You might be able to see it sooner.

[burrowowl]

8. K&R!

Cool!

[CrispyQ]

11. "...when the two galaxies merge in about 4 billion years' time..."