Andromeda galaxy

Illustration of a cosmic train wreck: The Milky Way/Andromeda galaxy collision, four billion years from now. Credit: NASA, ESA, Z. Levay and R. van der Marel (STScI), T. Hallas, and A. Mellinger

Uncertain future: Is Andromeda going to collide with the Milky Way or not?

The Andromeda galaxy may or may not collide with our own in 4 billion years.

By Phil Plait 5 days ago

The globular cluster RBC EXT8 (inset, left) orbits the Andromeda galaxy (right) and may be one of the oldest known such clusters. Credit: ESASky and CFHT

An ancient star city circles our galactic twin. In fact... it's too ancient

By Phil Plait 1 year ago

Artwork depicting the halo of the Andromeda galaxy (purple) superposed on an image of the night sky to show its scale. Credit: NASA, ESA, J. DePasquale and E. Wheatley (STScI) and Z. Levay

The Andromeda galaxy's halo is already colliding with the Milky Way's

By Phil Plait 1 year ago

The Andromeda Galaxy grew by eating smaller galaxies. Credit: Local Group Survey Team and T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage) / Phil Plait

The Andromeda Galaxy ate its small friends… twice

By Phil Plait 2 years ago

Artist's drawing of the RS Ophiuchi system, a recurring nova, where a white dwarf is accumulating matter from a star orbiting it. Credit: David Hardy & PPARC

An epically erupting star has carved a truly GIGANTIC hole in space

By Phil Plait 2 years ago

Illustration of a cosmic train wreck: The Milky Way/Andromeda galaxy collision, four billion years from now. Credit: NASA, ESA, Z. Levay and R. van der Marel (STScI), T. Hallas, and A. Mellinger

Breathe easy: You have an extra 600 million years before Andromeda crashes into us

By Phil Plait 2 years ago

The magnificent Andromeda Galaxy along with its companion M32 (upper left of center). Credit: Local Group Survey Team and T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage)

Two billion years ago, Andromeda ate the Milky Way’s sibling

By Phil Plait 3 years ago

Yes, That Picture of the Moon and the Andromeda Galaxy Is About Right

By Phil Plait 7 years ago

Illustration of a cosmic train wreck: The Milky Way/Andromeda galaxy collision, four billion years from now. Credit: NASA, ESA, Z. Levay and R. van der Marel (STScI), T. Hallas, and A. Mellinger

Hold on tight: in 4 billion years, we're due for a galactic collision!

By Phil Plait 9 years ago