THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: MrAngryFace on August 06, 2007, 07:52:36 PM

Title: Global Warming? 3 billion years from now we're gonna have bigger problems.
Post by: MrAngryFace on August 06, 2007, 07:52:36 PM: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/galaxy_collides_020507-2.html

Quote
Most scientists agree that the Milky Way will cross paths with the Andromeda galaxy in about three billion years. Both galaxies are now spiral in shape, though Andromeda is about twice as large as the Milky Way.

The galaxies are separated by about 2.2 million light years (one light-year is about 6 trillion miles, or 10 trillion kilometers). That gap is closing at about 310,000 miles per hour (500,000 kph).

While a collision appears inevitable, astronomers admit that the sideways motion of Andromeda -- the galaxy’s speed perpendicular to its forward path toward the Milky Way -- could affect the encounter’s timing, but it has yet to be measured precisely. Dubinksi used an estimate of 12.4 miles per second (20 km per second) for his collision model.

"Even if the galaxies have a wider passage on the first pass, if they are on a bound orbit they are destined to merge eventually," Dubinski said. "If not on the first flyby, then within the second or third pass over the next 10 billion years, he added.

The clincher is gravity. Even if there’s enough space between the Milky Way and Andromeda to simply brush past each other at spiral arm’s length, their mutual gravity will ultimately win out, drawing the two galaxies together on successive flybys
Title: Re: Global Warming? 3 billion years from now we're gonna have bigger problems.
Post by: hyp on August 06, 2007, 08:06:10 PM: i hope we all die. soon.
Title: Re: Global Warming? 3 billion years from now we're gonna have bigger problems.
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on August 06, 2007, 08:09:13 PM: When does our sun die out?
Title: Re: Global Warming? 3 billion years from now we're gonna have bigger problems.
Post by: Disposable White Guy on August 06, 2007, 08:10:07 PM: I for one, welcome our Andromedan overlords.
Title: Re: Global Warming? 3 billion years from now we're gonna have bigger problems.
Post by: MrAngryFace on August 06, 2007, 08:13:13 PM: I better pick up all the seasons of Andromeda to study up so I can help out ol Kevin Sorbo
Title: Re: Global Warming? 3 billion years from now we're gonna have bigger problems.
Post by: Disposable White Guy on August 06, 2007, 08:14:10 PM: It'll look great next to Stargate Atlantis, I bet!
Title: Re: Global Warming? 3 billion years from now we're gonna have bigger problems.
Post by: MrAngryFace on August 06, 2007, 08:14:57 PM: Which is next to 10 seasons of Stargate SG-1! Besides, Atlantis is in the Pegasus Galaxy. That would be of no use to me in this situation.
Title: Re: Global Warming? 3 billion years from now we're gonna have bigger problems.
Post by: Disposable White Guy on August 06, 2007, 08:16:51 PM: My mistake!
Title: Re: Global Warming? 3 billion years from now we're gonna have bigger problems.
Post by: Stocky on August 06, 2007, 08:17:34 PM: I can tell you what would be of use to you. Drinking alone.
Title: Re: Global Warming? 3 billion years from now we're gonna have bigger problems.
Post by: MrAngryFace on August 06, 2007, 08:19:55 PM: That would definately take my mind off the issues, yes.