Deepak Kapur said:I read that Andromeda galaxy is moving towards our galaxy at a speed of 200,000 miles per hour. Does it mean that Andromeda galaxy has increased mass and slowed time in comparison to us (or the opposite is true or no effect on its mass or time is there)?
No mathematical answers please (I am just a curious observer-neither a mathematician nor a physicist)
The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31, is a spiral galaxy located approximately 2.5 million light-years away from Earth. It is the closest large galaxy to our own Milky Way and is about 220,000 light-years across. Its fascinating nature lies in its size, beauty, and its impact on our own galaxy.
The Andromeda Galaxy is moving towards our Milky Way at a speed of about 110 kilometers per second. This movement is causing a gravitational pull between the two galaxies, which is resulting in a distortion of the space-time fabric. This means that the mass and time in the vicinity of the galaxies are being affected by this movement.
Yes, according to scientific predictions, the Andromeda Galaxy will collide with our Milky Way in approximately 4.5 billion years. This collision will result in the formation of a new galaxy, often referred to as "Milkomeda".
Despite the fact that the Andromeda Galaxy is about 2.5 million light-years away from Earth, the collision will have a significant impact on our planet. The gravitational forces and radiation from the collision may cause changes in the Earth's orbit and climate, but it is unlikely to completely destroy our planet.
Studying the Andromeda Galaxy and its movement provides us with valuable insights into the dynamics of galaxies and the behavior of the universe on a larger scale. It also helps us understand the formation and evolution of galaxies, which can give us a better understanding of the origins of our own Milky Way.