How has the Milky Way evolved to reach its current structure over the past 13 billion years?
Answer
Through mergers and accretion of smaller galaxies and star clusters
The Milky Way reached its current state through a long-term process involving the gravitational attraction and absorption of smaller satellite galaxies and star clusters. Early in its history, gas clouds collapsed to form the first generations of stars. As it accumulated more mass, it settled into the rotating, flattened disk shape. This process is continuous, as the galaxy keeps accreting gas and smaller systems, fueling the birth of new stars and ensuring it remains an active, evolving system.
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