Where it is: 2.5 million light-years away, in the constellation Andromeda
Andromeda is the only major galaxy in the universe that is speeding closer to the Milky Way as all the others rush away. Now, a new analysis of Hubble Space Telescope data hints that our galactic next-door neighbor may be winding down from a big burst of activity as it draws toward a possible collision with our galaxy.
Andromeda is a giant spiral galaxy similar to the Milky Way, but with around twice its mass. As the nearest large spiral galaxy to Earth, it provides an ideal laboratory for studying galaxy formation and evolution. An understanding of when and where stars form is essential for explaining how galaxies develop and change over time.
The new study found that Andromeda formed stars at a rate of around one solar mass per year 500 million years ago. By 40 million years ago, that rate had halved, while today the rate has fallen to just one-fifth of a solar mass each year. Researchers found that most recent star formation in Andromeda has been concentrated within a ring about 32,000 light-years from the galaxy's center and that the decreasing activity within this region is largely responsible for the overall decline. That suggests the galaxy is gradually winding down from its previous burst of star formation rather than suddenly running out of material.
Related storiesScientists also investigated whether M32 may have contributed to the slowdown. Regions closest to M32 show a more recent decline in star formation, making the companion galaxy a possible influence, although the evidence remains inconclusive.
Andromeda is best observed in November and is visible to the naked eye, even from locations with moderate light pollution. The galaxy may collide with the Milky Way about 5 billion years from now, though its ultimate trajectory is still uncertain.
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