Hubble Telescope Captures Detailed Image of Andromeda Galaxy, Revealing Galactic "Train Wreck"
The Hubble Space Telescope has released a stunning 417-megapixel image of the Andromeda Galaxy, depicting over 200 million stars in remarkable detail. This photomosaic, created from more than a decade of observations, showcases the galaxy's troubled state, described by astronomer Daniel Weisz as a "train wreck."
Originally thought to be part of the Milky Way, Andromeda was established as an independent galaxy by Edwin Hubble. The new image indicates a significant decline in star formation within Andromeda, potentially caused by past collisions with other galaxies, particularly the satellite galaxy Messier 32. These interactions may have depleted Andromeda's interstellar gas, halting the formation of new stars.
Andromeda currently appears transitional, with a central bulge of older stars and a star-forming disk that is less active than expected for its size. As Hubble continues to age, newer telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope and the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope may offer further insights into Andromeda's complex history in the coming years.
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