Andromeda's Turbulent History Unveiled through Galactic Archeology

A galactic archaeology project has revealed that Andromeda, the neighboring galaxy of the Milky Way, has a violent and dramatic history. By examining the chemical compositions of stars in Andromeda, astrophysicists have determined that it experienced intense star formation and two distinct eras of star birth. The researchers believe that Andromeda's creation was more turbulent than the origins of the Milky Way, with a secondary period of star formation triggered by a collision and merger with another gas-rich galaxy. This collision also affected Andromeda's stellar population. Furthermore, the study confirms that the Milky Way and Andromeda are on a collision course, set to collide in around 4.5 billion years, resulting in a severe makeover for both galaxies.