• Question: If two galaxies collide is it possible create a larger galaxies

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      Asked by iMad to Alex, Anaïs, Peter, Sarwat, Shreesha on 12 Mar 2015.
      • Photo: Anaïs Pujol

        Anaïs Pujol answered on 12 Mar 2015:

        Our galaxy is actually getting closer to Andromeda galaxy. However, galaxies are not solid objects so no collision, and stars in galaxies are really far away from each others. The closer one to the sun is at 4 light years so quite far. Two galaxies can by consequence cross each others without any collision between the stars. Also, the gravitation effect changes their shape before they meet and become to turn from each others (so stars attract and repulse each others). The consequence of two galaxies ‘crossing’ is gravitation changing effect which breaks gas clouds and will give birth to millions of new stars. SO really productive. However they just cross so no collision or expansion.

      • Photo: Shreesha Bhat

        Shreesha Bhat answered on 13 Mar 2015:

        Yes, in a way. But, here the term collision wouldnot literally mean glass-breaking violent collision, its more of like a ‘merger’. Galaxies are very large with millions of star spread out over a huge space, so its very loosely packed, hence when two galaxies come close together, they just accomodate each other, resulting in the distortion of their shapes. for eg. if two spiral galaxies collide, they will form an elliptical or a disk shaped galaxy.

      • Photo: Peter Maskell

        Peter Maskell answered on 13 Mar 2015:

        i don’t see why not.

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