What would be of our galaxy, our solar system after colliding with Andromeda?

Question

What would be the outcome to our solar system after a collision with the Andromeda galaxy? I know that our galaxy would be altered, but would the shock wave from such a colossal impact wipe out life as we know it throughout our galaxy?

Answer 1

There will be significant intragalactic gravitational effects, but it's unlikely that it would have a significant effect on Earth. Galaxies, despite their appearance from afar, are mostly void space.

It's likely that the Sun's gravity would still be the dominant force, though the nighttime sky would change dramatically (over thousands of years).

But there is a slight chance that there could be stellar close encounters.

Regardless, life as we know it will be gone long before then.

Answer 2

Very little would happen. Look at it this way, the nearest star is 4.35 lightyears away. Galaxies are 99.99999% empty space. So two galaxies collide. The biggest effect will be that nebulas in each, which tend to be a few lightyears across, will collide, probably setting off the formation of some new stars. But existing stars will happily drift on by. Maybe in two colliding galaxies there might be a couple close approaches, which would disrupt a couple planetary systems. With over two hundred billion stars in our galaxy, and about 350 billion in Andromeda, the odds aren't too bad.

Answer 3

that would be very unlikely. the fact is that galaxies are so incomprehensibly enormous, that the probability of anything really colliding is very low, there is just too much space in between stars for that to happen. but, in the small chance that it would happen, it could be disastrous, but there is really nothing we can do about it.
There are multiple asteroids that are supposedly on a possible collision course with earth, and those we are able to deal with. scientists are coming up with some really ingenious ideas about dealing with these astral visiotrs, such as using gravity to pull the asteroid out of its original orbit, so it bypasses earth all together. none of that armageddon blowing it up junk, because that would only induce a shotgun effect and cause much more damage.
Now, Even if the collision of the milky way with Andromeda would cause major damage to life as we know it, that is several billions years away, and you are not going to live to see it, humanity might not even live to see it. but, i would imagine it would look spectacular, the number of stars you would see in the night sky would quadruple, another star may even come into our vicinity, change weather patterns and the climate all over the globe.
The concerns that anything would really collide with two galaxies crashing into each other is so far off, and so unlikely that there is really nothing to worry about.

Answer 4

Collisions are not real. Two galaxies attract each other, one more importantly then they form a new Galaxy without loss of matter or energy. This is important.

nasa.gov gives examples of such "collisions".

Life would be wiped out I guess so. But it would'nt appear during your life!

There is no collision as is but two galaxies exchange dust and gazes. It should take a very long time before a new born galaxy emerges from this,

The two galaxies are not only altered but form a new galaxy. Look in the nasa.gov site for more details. There are pictures of such "accidents",

I remember that our own Galaxy was said to have emerged from such a collision (I read it during the 50's.).

Answer 5

Interestingly enough, when galaxies collide, most likely the majority of stars inside those galaxies are relatively unaffected. Galaxies are mostly empty space, the chances of a collision with another star from another Galaxy are pretty slim. Think of it like trying to get two atoms collide in a supercollider. Most particles they throw at each other never come close to one another, and they are trying to get them to smash up.
The most probable scenario is that the Sun's path through the galaxy, along with all the surrounding stars, would be gravitationally drawn on a new course around the more massive of the two galaxies. There is even the possibility that the Sun could be drawn so far off course it completely breaks away from the Milky Way altogether and into the emptiness of intergalactic space.
What would result from this scenario is a remarkable absence of stars in the sky, and a breathtaking view of two behemoth galaxies merging/colliding with one another. Of course, instead of the stars, he distant galaxies would be more visible at night and would most likely become the new constellations.
That is until our Sun burns all its Hydrogen, swells up, ad destroys the earth.

Answer 6

Actually, gravity is the biggest factor. Except for near the center, galaxies are made up of mostly empty space. Our path around the center of the Milkyway would likely be disrupted, and some stars *might* collide, but by & large, there's more interaction when two clouds collide in the sky than there would be when two galaxies hit.

Answer 7

To all the infidels: Get thee to a planetarium to view the "Cosmic Collisions" video! You'll see a very good representation of galactic collisions!
After the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies collide, another race of beings somewhere else will have to rename our home planet! Perhaps they'll call it the Andromeda Way?

Answer 8

The shape of our Galaxy is a spiral geometry. The earth relative to our Galaxy is spiraling out ward. This system works on the basis of how much gravity power it contains. If another Galaxy merged with the milky way the shape would not change but the power of gravity would change.

Answer 9

u won't feel it because it will happen slowly as in hundreds of thousands of years and the gravitational fields of all the stars will organize them selves and not even one star will collide with another the view will be amazing how ever I envy the people who will look up to the sky 2 billion years from now