The Future of the Milky Way and Andromeda: Collision or Merger?
Astronomers have long anticipated a cosmic event where the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies collide. Previous studies, including one by NASA, predicted this merger would begin in 4.5 billion years, lasting for another 2 to 3 billion years. However, a recent study from the University of Helsinki introduces a new perspective, suggesting that the probability of such a collision may not be as high as previously thought. Instead of an inevitable collision, the study indicates that there is only a 50% chance that the two galaxies will merge.
