+34 votes
in Astronomy by
edited by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
+23 votes
by

it is believed that the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies will indeed collide in the future. However, the timeframe for this event is on a much larger scale than the lifespan of human civilization or even the Earth itself.

Based on current scientific understanding, the collision between the Milky Way and Andromeda is projected to occur in about 4 billion years. These galaxies are approaching each other due to the influence of gravity, and eventually, their gravitational interaction will cause them to merge. This event is sometimes referred to as the "Milkomeda" merger.

While the collision will undoubtedly have a significant impact on both galaxies, including the rearrangement of stars and the formation of new stellar systems, the chances of it directly affecting life on Earth are extremely low. Four billion years is an enormous time span in relation to the existence of humanity and the Earth's current habitable conditions.

To put things into perspective, it's worth noting that the estimated age of the Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years, and the emergence of complex life forms, including humans, occurred much more recently. Therefore, even in the event of a galactic collision, the fate of life on Earth would be primarily determined by other factors such as the Sun's evolution and the long-term stability of our planet's environment.

Welcome to Physicsgurus Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.
...