Hubble's Universe Season 1 Episode 15 Milky Way Collision with Andromeda

In the fifteenth episode of Hubble's Universe, viewers are taken on a journey through space to witness an event that will occur in several billion years. The episode, entitled "Milky Way Collision with Andromeda," explores the possibility of the two largest galaxies in our local group merging together. This phenomenon is not only a significant event in the universe but could also have repercussions for our own Milky Way galaxy.

The episode begins by explaining the current state of the Milky Way galaxy. We learn that it is a barred spiral galaxy that contains billions of stars, including our sun. However, the Milky Way is not alone in the universe. It is part of a larger structure known as the local group, which consists of several dozen galaxies. The two most massive galaxies in this group are the Milky Way and Andromeda.

As the episode progresses, we learn more about Andromeda. Like the Milky Way, it is a barred spiral galaxy, but it is twice the size and contains twice as many stars. In fact, Andromeda is the largest galaxy in the local group and is visible to the naked eye from Earth. However, despite its size, Andromeda is also on a collision course with the Milky Way.

The episode explores what will happen when these two galaxies collide. We learn that the collision will not be like two cars crashing together. Instead, it is more like two clouds of gas colliding and merging together. The potential disaster lies in the fact that both galaxies contain supermassive black holes at their centers. When the two black holes inevitably merge, they will release a tremendous amount of energy in the form of gravitational waves. This energy could potentially be detected by instruments on Earth and could give us new insights into the nature of black holes.

The episode also explains that the merger will take billions of years to complete. Fortunately, this means that no humans will be around to witness it firsthand. However, scientists can use computer simulations to predict what the event will look like.

One aspect that the episode explores in detail is how the collision will affect our solar system. We learn that the sun is currently orbiting the center of the Milky Way galaxy and will continue to do so after the collision. However, it is likely that the sun will be flung to a new location within the merged galaxy. This could potentially disrupt the orbit of any planets orbiting the sun, leading to catastrophic consequences. However, this is only a possibility, and scientists will need to study the event further to determine the exact outcome.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to stunning images of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. We get a sense of the immense scale of the universe and how insignificant our own galaxy is in comparison. The episode also explains how the Hubble has been crucial in studying these galaxies and helping scientists understand their properties.

In conclusion, "Milky Way Collision with Andromeda" is a fascinating episode that explores one of the most significant events that will occur in our galaxy. The episode is both informative and visually stunning and provides a glimpse into the workings of the universe. It highlights the importance of scientific research and space exploration and underscores how much we have yet to discover about the cosmos.