What will happen when the Andromeda galaxy and the Milky Way galaxy collide sometime in the next five billion years?

(1 point)
Responses

The Milky Way will engulf the Andromeda galaxy.

The Milky Way will engulf the Andromeda galaxy.

They will merge to create one super galaxy.

They will merge to create one super galaxy.

They will crash together and both explode.

They will crash together and both explode.

The Andromeda galaxy will engulf the Milky Way.

1 answer

When the Andromeda galaxy and the Milky Way galaxy collide in approximately four to five billion years, the most likely outcome is that they will merge to create one super galaxy. This process will involve gravitational interactions that might lead to the creation of a larger elliptical galaxy over time. While individual stars within the galaxies are unlikely to collide due to the vast distances between them, their gas and dust will interact, potentially triggering new star formation. Therefore, the correct response is:

They will merge to create one super galaxy.