New research from the University of Queensland has shown the Milky Way galaxy is on a collision course. It’s on a very direct trajectory toward nearby galaxies, among them the Andromeda galaxy. This revolutionary new research, called “Delegate,” is designed to reveal the real evolutionary trajectory of the Milky Way galaxy. Is it really the normal narrative across our entire universe, or is it the extraordinary outlier?
… it will be the most complete picture of the dynamics of the Milky Way and its satellite system. They propose that smaller dwarf galaxies rotate around it in a common plane. The discovery underscores how much galaxies like our Milky Way mirror what is seen in other galaxies. Specifically, NGC5713 and NGC5719 are roughly 3 billion years in the future of the Milky Way and Andromeda’s merger with each other.
The implications of this research are significant beyond the local sense, pointing to a more universal trend in galaxy evolution and interaction. Without such a merger, galaxies such as the Milky Way would remain separate. They would be embedded inside an evenly dispersed but glittering cosmic soup of stars and dwarf galaxies.
Understanding Galactic Evolution
The survey is directed by Professor Helmut Jerjen and Dr. Sarah Sweet. Specifically, they want to learn how ordered structures, like the Milky Way’s satellite system, form and evolve over time.
The survey will assess if the Milky Way’s structure is consistent with what is observed in other galaxies across the universe. Scientists will study NGC5713 and NGC5719 in tandem. Their goal is to determine if the dynamical trends seen in these nearby spiral galaxies can be extrapolated to our own galactic backyard.
“We will test whether the Milky Way and Andromeda Local Group is a poster child or a cosmic outlier.”
The unusual configuration of dwarf galaxies orbiting the Milky Way has presented a challenge for their proposed evolutionary scenarios. And so past work has suggested these smaller galaxies would behave the same way as those around other spirals. Those results raise the intriguing possibility that such coherent satellite systems are not special to our own galaxy but more common across the local universe.
The Role of Dwarf Galaxies
Such observations defy current models and force scientists to rethink the way in which we understand massive galactic formations. To this end, the objective of the proposed research is to connect reality with theory.
Whether or not the Milky Way will continue on this fiery path in the future is an open question. A future merger with Andromeda seems to look like what has already happened with NGC5713 and NGC5719. Such violent events would be enough to drastically alter the shape and structure of both galaxies.
“For example, there is persisting tension between local galaxy group observations and the world’s most sophisticated cosmological computer simulations, such as the observed placement of dwarfs preferentially in satellite planes around their hosts.”
Understanding these interactions could not only enhance knowledge about our galaxy but inform broader cosmological theories regarding galaxy evolution. The “Delegate” survey represents a significant step toward answering fundamental questions about how galaxies like the Milky Way fit into the larger cosmic tapestry.
Looking Towards the Future
The future trajectory of the Milky Way remains uncertain but intriguing. A potential merger with Andromeda resembles what has already occurred with NGC5713 and NGC5719. Such events could reshape the structure of both galaxies significantly.
Professor Jerjen raised a critical question regarding this cosmic interplay:
“Will the Milky Way begin its own dance with Andromeda with the smaller dwarf rotating around them? That’s what we want to find out.”
Understanding these interactions could not only enhance knowledge about our galaxy but also inform broader cosmological theories regarding galaxy evolution. The “Delegate” survey represents a significant step toward answering fundamental questions about how galaxies like the Milky Way fit into the larger cosmic tapestry.