Where will the Solar System end up?

[Argonavis]

Recent modelling indicates that the solar system will be disrupted from the Milky Way after the next 2 close encounters with the Andromeda galaxy:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/05/070516-galaxies-collide.html

The Andromeda Galaxy, about 2.5 times the size of the milky way galaxy at 220,000 light year across, is heading our way at 300 kms/sec.

The modelling indicates that on the third encounter, both galaxies will merge.

[robagar]

hmm, I doubt they can really predict where the sun *in particular* will end up after a collision. There can't be many interactions more chaotic than gravitional attraction between billions of stars =)

[ballaratdragons]

What ever location researchers end up placing us at, who is going to be around in a few Million years to say "Ha Ha, you got it wrong!" :lol:

[sheeny]

This was in this morning's news @ nature:

http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070514/full/070514-3.html

Al.

[ballaratdragons]

I'm not going to pay $7.99 per month just to read your link!!!! :eyepop:

[sheeny]

Sorry about that Ken... Nature seems to make these link available, and then change the access at some random time afterwards so that it becomes a "premium" subscriber article... I could read it this morning but not this arvo...

Seems a strange thing to do if you ask me...

Al.

[ballaratdragons]

That's OK Al. :thumbsup:

[Greg Bryant]

Ken,

The subject was a feature article - "The Great Milky Way - Andromeda Collision" in the Jan/Feb 2007 issue of Australian Sky & Telescope.