Saturday, April 05, 2008

And we thought you guys were our best friends forever!

*sniff*

Photobucket

Two nearby galaxies - long thought to be true companions of the Milky Way - may instead be drifters, passing through the cosmic neighbourhood.

Astronomers say the Magellanic Clouds may be moving too fast to be gravitationally bound to our galaxy.

If the clouds were satellites of our galaxy, the Milky Way would contain twice as much mass as is thought.

[snip]

The researchers say there are two possible explanations for the unexpectedly high 3D velocities of the dwarf galaxies.

The Milky Way could be twice as massive as previously thought: this excess mass, pulling on the clouds, would be required to keep them gravitationally bound.

Alternatively, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds might not be bound to our galaxy after all.

If previous calculations of the Milky Way's mass are correct, it does not possess enough mass to hold on to its companions.

In a few billion years, they will escape the clutches of our galaxy.

"The Magellanic Clouds may not be true companions of the Milky Way," Dr Kallivayalil said. "Perhaps they are travellers, just passing through our cosmic neighbourhood."

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, we know there's a lot of dark matter we can't account for so I wouldn't be too hasty to dismiss the theory that the Milky Way is a bit heavier than once thought.

Besides, we're going to get to see the other side of the Milky Way in a few years. That should be fun.

ellroon said...

It's just that we've hung out so long together....

Distributorcap said...

can they drag the bush family along with them to andromeda

ellroon said...

I thought someone was building a rocket to take them into the sun...

Steve Bates said...


  I wandered, lonely for a cloud...
  Nay, two, and both called Magellanic;
  Years with them? billions left. I'm proud
  To say I didn't promptly panic.
  In fact, I just don't give a turd's worth...
  As long as we may have our words' worth.

  - SB the YDD

ellroon said...

I'm sure Wordsworth never thought to be teamed up with turds but your poem truly does him justice!

Steve Bates said...

That Wordsworth poem is one of my favorites from that period. And I have a tendency to remember and parody my favorites. "You always hurt the one you love, the one you shouldn't hurt at all..."

I thought of using another rhyme, knowing the attention would focus on that one word. But I have a reputation to maintain. :)