The galaxy is big and heavy

For decades, scientists believe that the galaxy - the home of the Earth - is just a child next to the neighbor Andromeda giant. Recently, however, American astronomers have proved large galaxies and much heavier than previous calculations, at least equal to Andromeda.

The Associated Press reported that at the January 5 California Astronomical Society conference, researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics gave a detailed map of the galaxy. Accordingly, the galaxy is 15% wider than the old ones and weighs more than 50%. ' Earlier we thought that the galaxy was just a little sister of the Andromeda galaxy, but now it is possible to see two galaxies like a twins '. In addition, the spiral galaxy also rotates around the center at a higher speed, about 914,107 km / h.

However, that is not entirely good news. AP quoted the researcher Mark Reid, the study author, that larger galaxies mean the gravitational force between galaxies and Andromeda is stronger. Thus, these two galaxies will collide with each other sooner than previously expected, and the collision will be very strong rather than grazing.

Still, Mr. Reid said the collision will only happen after at least 2-3 billion years.

Galaxy strip (Photo: Galaxyphoto.com)