How the Andromeda galaxy was born

A major collision between two massive galaxies six billion years ago could have formed the Milky Way's neighbouring galaxy Andromeda, scientists have discovered.

An international team led by Francois Hammer from Paris Observatory, which includes researchers from the National Astronomical Observatory of China (NAOC), modelled for the first time the detailed structural evolution of the Andromeda Galaxy.

This animation shows how the team think Andromeda developed over the course of time.

Courtesy GEPI, Observatoire de Paris / NAOC