The origin of the Milky Way

The Milky Way is the name given to the spiral galaxy where the Solar System is located, and therefore also our planet Earth. At present it is formed by a large central disk from which two long curved arms emerge with millions of stars, dust and gas. However, in its origins, it was totally different. In this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to discover you what is the origin of the Milky Way so that you know our universe better.

The study of the Milky Way has always aroused great interest from the scientific community, from Ancient Greece to the present, giving rise to different theories about its formation.

However, the most recent research corresponds to a group of American astronomers, who affirm that the origin of the Milky Way may be due to a clash with the Sagittarius galaxy, that is, an elliptical dwarf that collided with ours about 2 billion years ago.

The latest research carried out by scientists from different North American states, and published in the journal Nature, tries to explain how these two arms of the Milky Way arose. According to numerous observations made with highly accurate telescopes, its origin took place when the Sagittarius galaxy collided with our own, and the force of this great impact

Despite the countless studies carried out by scientists from all corners of the world, knowing the true nature of our galaxy is not easy. If we look at the theoretical models of the Milky Way, we can affirm that its shape is spiral and that it has two large arms, where millions of celestial bodies are found.

In any case, studying our galaxy is even more difficult because we are part of it, which prevents us from appreciating the true nature of the whole. Therefore, we will still have to wait to know the mysteries that surround the Milky Way and that will be key to determining its origin and ours.