“Unlocking the Secrets of the Milky Way: 14 Astonishing Facts That Will Blow Your Mind!”
This group is bound together by gravity, and all the galaxies in it orbit around a shared center. The Local Group itself belongs to an even larger structure known as the Virgo Supercluster. It’s a reminder that galaxies don’t exist alone, they’re part of a much larger cosmic web.
7. It’s on a Collision Course with Andromeda
Our galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy are destined to collide, in about 4.5 billion years. When they finally meet, they’ll merge to create a new galaxy, which some scientists are calling “Milkomeda.”
Despite what you might imagine, galaxy collisions don’t typically involve stars crashing into each other. The vast distances between stars mean they’ll mostly just pass by one another, but the gravitational interactions will reshape both galaxies.
8. The Milky Way is Full of Old Star Clusters
The Milky Way contains over 150 globular clusters, which are dense groups of ancient stars orbiting the galaxy. These clusters are some of the oldest objects in the galaxy, dating back billions of years to its early days.
Studying globular clusters helps astronomers learn more about the Milky Way’s formation and evolution. They’re like living time capsules, offering a glimpse into the galaxy’s distant past.
9. Spiral Arms Are Star Nurseries
The Milky Way’s spiral arms are where new stars are born. These regions are rich in gas and dust, the raw materials needed for star formation. However, not all stars live in the arms, our Sun, for example, orbits in a relatively quiet area called the galactic disk.
