Galaxies
Nighttime Sky View of Future Galaxy Merger: 7 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 ↗
The merged galaxies form a huge elliptical galaxy, its bright core dominating the nighttime sky. Scoured of dust and gas, the newly merged elliptical galaxy no longer makes stars and no nebulae appear in the sky. The aging starry population is no longer concentrated along a plane, but instead fills an ellipsoidal volume.
More Hubble images of M31, NGC 224, Andromeda Galaxy
Crash of the Titans: Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way CollisionMay 31, 2012
Nighttime Sky View of Future Galaxy MergerMay 31, 2012Nighttime Sky View of Future Galaxy Merger: Present DayMay 31, 2012
Nighttime Sky View of Future Galaxy Merger: 2 Billion YearsMay 31, 2012
Nighttime Sky View of Future Galaxy Merger: 3.75 Billion YearsMay 31, 2012
Nighttime Sky View of Future Galaxy Merger: 3.85-3.9 Billion YearsMay 31, 2012
Nighttime Sky View of Future Galaxy Merger: 3.85-3.9 Billion YearsMay 31, 2012
Nighttime Sky View of Future Galaxy Merger: 4 Billion YearsMay 31, 2012