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Litalian t1_jdrt89f wrote

Distances between stars in a galaxy are so great that it will be near impossible for most stars or planets to collide. Though a few are likely to. We would almost surely still have our Sol And solar system as it has always been, just probably much farther from the center of our new galaxy than we were in our old. And this would apply to almost the entire galaxy. It would not be nearly as destructive as you probably imagine.

Edit to say that the most destructive part of the collision would likely be the force of gravity launching some entire stars, planets, and solar systems out of orbit entirely. Off into the darkness of space to freeze and float forever. This is also an unlikely scenario for 99% of both galaxies, but it’s still going to happen to some of them.

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lezboyd t1_jds2env wrote

Pretty much this. I think there are gifs and videos of this being simulated too.

What I would like to add is that the merger and gravitational interaction of the matter within both galaxies will also result in a new burst of active star formation as the gases and nebulas within both galaxies are acted upon by various forces during the merger.

As for our Sun, it would be in its late stages, either nearing it or having already become a red giant and swallowing up the inner planets. So unless we have become a space faring species and spread out to other stars, we'd more likely be extinct.

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NoFact8018 t1_jdsio4d wrote

From what I understand, the sun won't begin to expand for approximately 5 billion years. Andromeda will get here around the same time, or perhaps a little earlier.

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No_Leather9530 t1_jdue58v wrote

From what I recall it's about half the time, roughly. From a distant vague memory

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Due_Connection179 t1_jds3hbp wrote

This, but it also depends on how close Andromeda's black hole (or larger stars) comes to us because it could push us around in our solar system, or launch us into deep space altogether (both extremely unlikely obviously).

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FallenShadeslayer t1_jdsqqn4 wrote

So unlikely it’s not even worth mentioning unless you watch too many domesday shows on the History Channel.

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Aquaticulture t1_jdv76nn wrote

> domesday

Is there a reason thou choseth the Middle English spelling?

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rkhbusa t1_jdt6b46 wrote

Not even a few there’s a less than 1% chance that a star collision will occur when the two galaxies collide. If the distance between the stars was measured in kilometres the stars would be grains of sand.

Additionally while the stars exhibit gravity that often doesn’t put them on collision courses. Play some kerbal space program and learn how hard it is to hit a large gravitational object without just slingshotting around it.

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