What happens when spiral galaxies collide?
Nynke June 1st, 2007
Hans Konstapel sent me a link to this youtube video:
“Two billion years from now, our galaxy is in for a shock. With every hour that passes, the Milky Way gets half a million kilometres closer to another large spiral galaxy called Andromeda, and it is only a matter of time before we collide. Over the course of 3 billion years or so, the galaxies will swing through each other, stretching out long, wispy streams of stars before settling down and merging into one. That much we know.
Yet that picture is far from complete. Lying at the centre of our galaxy is a giant black hole more than 3 million times as massive as the sun. The black hole at the heart of Andromeda is believed to be 10 times the size. What will happen to these supermassive black holes during the encounter is anyone’s guess.”
More here: http://space.newscientist.com/article…
In return I sent Hans a link to this youtube video:
“Diamond produces x-ray, infrared and ultra-violet beams of exceptional brightness. These highly focused beams of light enable scientists and engineers to probe deep into the basic structure of matter and materials, answering fundamental questions about everything from the building blocks of life to the origin of our planet.”
More here: http://www.diamond.ac.uk
You and I are scientists, professor. We purchase the right to experiment at the cost of total responsibility.
– Dr. Who (4th doctor) in “Planet of Evil”
andromeda, black hole, diamond, galaxies, light, milky way, spirals, synchrotron