For a while, astronomers have identified that collisions or mergers between galaxies are an integral part of cosmic evolution. Along with inflicting galaxies to develop, these mergers additionally set off new rounds of star formation as contemporary gasoline and dirt are injected into the universe. Sooner or later, astronomers estimate that the Milky Way Galaxy will merge with the Andromeda Galaxy, in addition to the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds within the meantime.
In line with new outcomes obtained by researchers on the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA) in New York City, the results of our eventual merger with the Magellanic Clouds are already being felt. In accordance with outcomes offered on the 235th assembly of the American Astronomical Society this week, stars forming within the outskirts of our galaxy could be the results of these dwarf galaxies merging with our personal.
During the presentation, which occurred on Wed (Jan. 8th) in Honolulu, the analysis staff defined how knowledge from the ESA’s Gaia observatory revealed the existence of a younger stellar cluster within the outskirts of the Milky Way’s halo. This cluster has been designated Price-Whelan 1 in honor of the crew chief Adrian M. Value-Whelan (a research fellow with the CCA).
Much more shocking was the truth that spectra obtained from the cluster indicated that they doubtless shaped from the stream of fuel emanating from one of many arms of the Giant Magellanic Cloud. The invention means that this stream of fuel extending from the galaxies, often called Leading Arm II, is significantly nearer to the Milky Way than beforehand thought (and likewise more adjacent to colliding with it).
That is the aim of the Gaia mission, which has been gathering knowledge on the positions, distances, and correct motions of about 1.7 billion celestial objects since 2013. Utilizing the most recent dataset to be launched by the mission, Price-Whelan and his colleagues looked for proof of very blue younger stars that had clumps transferring with them. After figuring out several times, they crossed-matched them to get rid of recognized clusters.