HUBBLE ATLAS
Nighttime Sky View of Future Galaxy Merger: 4 Billion Years (M31, NGC 224, Andromeda Galaxy) — image from the Hubble Space Telescope

Galaxies

Nighttime Sky View of Future Galaxy Merger: 4 Billion Years

May 31, 2012 · NASA · M31, NGC 224, Andromeda Galaxy

Zoom to full resolution See where it is in the 3D sky Original on NASA ↗

After its first close pass, Andromeda is tidally stretched out. The Milky Way, too, becomes warped.