New research from the University of Helsinki, using data from NASA's Hubble and the European Space Agency's Gaia space telescopes, challenges the long-held belief that the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies will inevitably collide.
The simulations, conducted in Durham, UK, and published recently, indicate only a 2% probability of a collision within the next 5 billion years. This contradicts earlier predictions that a collision was virtually certain within that timeframe.
Led by Dr. Till Sawala, the team explored a wider range of possibilities using new data. If a merger does occur, it's now predicted to happen in 7 to 8 billion years, significantly later than previously estimated, resulting in a cosmic transformation into an elliptical galaxy.
Professor Carlos Frenk emphasizes the power of physics and supercomputers in simulating the evolution and ultimate fate of these massive star collections. The team anticipates even more precise measurements from the Gaia space telescope, promising further clarity on the future of these galactic giants.