A New Dawn

  • Released Thursday, July 12, 2012
  • Updated Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 4:29PM
  • ID: 11011
The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are destined to collide. See how it will all unfold.

The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are destined to collide. See how it will all unfold.

Watch this video to learn more about what will happen when the two galaxies collide.

This computer simulation shows the Milky Way and Andromeda as their orbits evolve over the next 7 billion years.

The following illustrations preview the merger as seen from Earth, beginning with a present day view of Andromeda and the Milky Way (above).

The following illustrations preview the merger as seen from Earth, beginning with a present day view of Andromeda and the Milky Way (above).

At 2 billion years, the mutual pull of gravity between the two galaxies brings Andromeda closer, increasing its visibility.

At 2 billion years, the mutual pull of gravity between the two galaxies brings Andromeda closer, increasing its visibility.

At 3.75 billion years, Andromeda and the Milky Way prepare for their initial collision.

At 3.75 billion years, Andromeda and the Milky Way prepare for their initial collision.

At 3.85 billion years, the sky brightens from the emergence of newly formed stars.

At 3.85 billion years, the sky brightens from the emergence of newly formed stars.

At 3.9 billion years, clouds of ionized gas fill the sky.

At 3.9 billion years, clouds of ionized gas fill the sky.

At 4 billion years, the Milky Way appears warped and Andromeda stretched following their first encounter.

At 4 billion years, the Milky Way appears warped and Andromeda stretched following their first encounter.

At 5.1 billion years, the cores of the Milky Way and Andromeda appear as a pair of bright lobes.

At 5.1 billion years, the cores of the Milky Way and Andromeda appear as a pair of bright lobes.

At 7 billion years, the two galaxies combine and form a huge elliptical galaxy.

At 7 billion years, the two galaxies combine and form a huge elliptical galaxy.

For More Information

See Science@NASA

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
Science@NASA, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Galaxy illustrations courtesy of NASA, ESA, Z. Levay and R. van der Marel (STScI) T. Hallas, and A. Mellinger
Visualization courtesy of NASA, ESA, and F. Summers (STScI)
Simulation courtesy of NASA, ESA, G. Besla (Columbia University) and R. van der Marel (STScI)

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