Galactic Merger: Exploring the Possibility

  • Thread starter wolram
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In summary, our galaxy is being pulled towards the great attractor, which is located in a position that it occupied 100 years in the past. However, the speed of the great attractor and its direction of movement will determine when and if our galaxy will eventually merge with it. This is similar to the gravitational effect on smaller systems, where objects spiral closer to each other before merging. This process may take billions of years and is occurring in other areas of the universe as well.
  • #1
wolram
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i have read that our galaxy is being pulled towards
the great attractor, also that the speed of gravity
is equal to C, if both of the above are correct then
our galaxy is being pulled to a position that the
great attractor was in the past, i don't know how far
away the GA is but for dscusion purposes only say
it is 100LYs, that would mean that our galaxy is
being pulled to a position occupied by the GA 100
years in the past, now if i suggest that the GA is
mooving at a right angle to the line of travel our galaxy then they
could never merge.
why is my thinking wrong?
 
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  • #2
Under your assumption our galaxy would be moving in a curved path, which would eventually hit the direction vector of the great attractor and pointing toward it. Whether it merges at that time or later depends on how fast the great attractor is moving relative to our galaxy.
 
  • #3
Originally posted by mathman
Under your assumption our galaxy would be moving in a curved path, which would eventually hit the direction vector of the great attractor and pointing toward it. Whether it merges at that time or later depends on how fast the great attractor is moving relative to our galaxy.
Yes, it is just like the gravitational effect on any "merging" system of multiple bodies. The fact that is on a >galactic scale is no more or less than on a much smaller scale.

Just think of it like the familiar "protostellar disk" forming a star and planets. The attraction does not pull all the material directly to a single center of mass in a straight line. The material (galaxies in this case) will approach on vectored (curved) paths and spiral closer and closer as they get nearer. Some galaxies may directly merge by chance collision, but most will spiral in with increasing V until they are close enough to collide and/or merge into a large, fat biggie. On this scale, we are probably talking billions of years and maybe even more than the present age of the universe. This is for our large-local group. The same thing is going on in other huge areas of the universe.

Labguy.
 
  • #4
now all is clear thanks
 

What is a galactic merger?

A galactic merger is the process in which two or more galaxies collide and combine to form a new galaxy.

How common are galactic mergers?

Galactic mergers are actually quite common in the universe. It is estimated that every galaxy has gone through at least one merger in its lifetime.

What are the effects of a galactic merger?

A galactic merger can have a variety of effects on the galaxies involved. It can trigger star formation, cause disruptions in the shape and structure of the galaxies, and even result in the formation of a supermassive black hole at the center of the new galaxy.

Can galactic mergers be observed?

Yes, galactic mergers can be observed and have been observed by scientists using various telescopes and instruments. They can be seen in the form of distorted shapes of galaxies and bursts of star formation.

What can studying galactic mergers tell us about the universe?

Studying galactic mergers can provide valuable insights into the evolution of galaxies and the formation of structures in the universe. It can also help us understand the role of dark matter and the growth of supermassive black holes.

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