What is the projected long-term fate of the Milky Way regarding the Andromeda Galaxy?
Answer
They will merge to form a single massive elliptical galaxy
The Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy are locked in a gravitational dance that is drawing them toward each other. Over several billion years, they will undergo a collision and eventually merge. This process will fundamentally alter the appearance of the night sky, disrupting the current spiral arms and blending the stars together into a single, massive elliptical galaxy. Despite the intensity of this merger, it is unlikely to significantly disrupt individual star systems, as galaxies are primarily composed of vast amounts of empty space, meaning star collisions are extremely rare.
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