Since Earth is on the edge of the milk way....?

Question

do you ever worry that we will be "thrown out of it" or out of orbit? I wonder if we could end up flying off into space someday seeing as we are so close to the end of it.

Answer 1

First of all Our solar system is not at the edge of the milky way.
The radius is considered about 60,000 light years and our solar system is located in ORION Branch and approx 30,000 light years away from galaxy's centre.
On the other hand already our Galaxy is in collision process with a "dwarf" galaxy but there is no problem, because the distances, between the stars, are so big, that there is no chance, one system to collite with another one.

Sleep easy...:)

Answer 2

No. We will not be thrown into space. We are part of the Milky Way, which has gravitational pull, and spins (in what direction I forgot). Anyway, Gravity is a fundamental force, and is part of these 4:
1. Gravitational
2. Electromagnetic
3. Weak Forces
4. Strong Forces

These forces are responsible for everything that happens in the universe. Gravity pulls everything into a spherical shape, and anything that protrudes out from this surface tends to be pulled inward.

In other words, "Every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force which is proportionate to both of their masses."

Also, centripital force keeps us in a circular path of rotation. Without this force, we would "fly off in a straight line."

Put it this way, it is like holding a ball with a string attached to it, and twirling it in the air above your head. If you let go the ball would go straight, but since the ball is being held by the force directed to the center of the curved path, the object continues its orbit.

So, no. We will not be thrown into space, even though we are at the end of the Milky Way because we are held in by the laws of Gravity, and centripital force. Get it? Got it? Good.

Answer 3

The energy required to throw the sun out of the galaxy orbit is so strong that i don't think we can survive it...

It could be that stars have more change to be thrown out as they get closer to the middle since there are a lot more activity there that could generate such forces...

Actualy it could be nice if the sun orbit will change in a vertical way so we could see our galaxy from the side...

Answer 4

If we ever were then we would need some assistance from a large gravitational force on the outside of the galaxy and that would take much of the outer rim of the galaxy with it as well, not just Earth. It is unlikely, however, that this would happen any time in the near future.

Answer 5

The Hubble has observed galaxies crashing into each other, but the gravity, i suppose, is keeping us attached to our Milky Way. Right now, we're on a collision course with the Virgo system....at the speed of 300km/sec. based on radio telescope data. My mind cannot comprehend galactic time when that dramatic event will occur, but suffice it to say, we'll be long gone by then. In fact, from the perspective of the Universe, Man does not exist.

Answer 6

It will only happen if another galaxy cuts in front of the Milky Way and the Milky Way has to stop suddenly. We will all be thrown out of orbit.

Answer 7

Actually, we're something like 10000 light-years from the edge, so we're no leaving anytime soon. Even if we do, we should still have the sun with us, so I say good riddance to bad rubbish!

Answer 8

There's a giant black hole in the centre of our galaxy, so the most probable scenario is that we'll be sucked in. That'll be a very dramatic event =))0

Answer 9

'close'... looking at the entire galaxy...

but physcially... it's EXTREMELY far away from the edge of the galaxy... if we did get 'thrown-out' it would be (to my best guess) BILLIONS of years from now.

Answer 10

we haven't been thrown out yet....