Cosmic dance of dwarf galaxies may reveal the fate of the Milky Way
In a pioneering study, a team of global researchers, spearheaded by ANU Professor Helmut Jerjen, is endeavoring to validate findings on galaxy evolution by publishing multiple papers as part of the Delegate survey. The research, involving institutions like the University of Queensland and the Australian National University's Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, aims to illuminate the trajectory of our galaxy and its twin, Andromeda.
The study reveals a persistent disparity between local galaxy group observations and the world's most advanced cosmological computer simulations. Understanding our galaxy's likely future is pivotal as it aids in refining models of galaxy evolution, dark matter, and cosmic structure. This research provides a unique vantage point on the evolution of galaxies in the universe.
Professor Jerjen's focus is on comparing the Milky Way and Andromeda Local Group with other twin-like systems. He seeks to determine if these galactic behemoths are a 'poster child' or a 'cosmic outlier' in galaxy evolution. One key finding suggests that current simulations of spiral and dwarf galaxies need a significant overhaul, as new observations from the Delegate survey indicate.
The team studied two similar spiral galaxies, NGC5713 and NGC5719, which are about 3 billion years ahead of the Milky Way and Andromeda in merging. The research showed that these galaxies combine as if they were engaged in a cosmic dance with the closely located dwarf satellites rotating around them. This observation could offer our clearest glimpse yet into how structures like the Milky Way's satellite system form and evolve.
Another significant finding of the Delegate survey is that the Milky Way is on a collision course with neighboring dwarf and spiral galaxies in the future. This collision, according to Dr. Sarah Sweet from Queensland's School of Mathematics and Physics, will occur in approximately 2.5 billion years, when the Milky Way merges with Andromeda and their respective smaller dwarf galaxies.
Without these mergers, galaxies might remain scattered in a random cloud, not arranged in beautiful, coherent planes like those around the Milky Way and Andromeda. This study, therefore, promises to revolutionize our understanding of galaxy evolution and the role of mergers in structuring the universe.
The Delegate study also includes researchers like Professor Otto Hannuksela from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who leads a gravitational-wave group involved in multi-messenger astronomy collaborations. The team's contributions are recognized through authorship on research papers and formal acknowledgments in publications, such as themed journal issues where the contributions of specific groups and individuals are highlighted.
In conclusion, the Delegate survey marks a significant stride forward in understanding the evolution of galaxies, particularly our own Milky Way and Andromeda. The findings suggest a need for a reevaluation of current simulations and offer insights into the role of mergers in galaxy evolution and the formation of coherent structures in the universe.
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