Astronomers from Durham University have determined that the Milky Way was flipped on its side approximately 10 billion years ago following a cataclysmic collision with a dwarf galaxy known as the Gaia Sausage. This direct hit occurred long before the formation of the solar system and fundamentally altered the orientation of our galaxy.
The research provides new evidence regarding the evolutionary history of the Milky Way, suggesting that this ancient impact was a defining event in establishing the galaxy's current position and structure. By analyzing the remnants of this collision, scientists have gained insight into the violent processes that shaped the galaxy during its early development.
In-depth summary · AI, neutral