As if we didn't have enough problems!

Prepare for the worst ... 4 Billion years from now

[tangor]

Andromeda, a massive spiral galaxy, has swallowed several galaxies within the last few billion years before setting its sights on the Milky Way.

"The Milky Way is on a collision course with Andromeda in about four billion years,” said Dougal Mackey, co-author of a new study published in Nature and a research fellow at the Australian National University. “So knowing what kind of a monster our galaxy is up against is useful in finding out the Milky Way's ultimate fate."

[theregister.co.uk...]

These eggheads are looking at this like some kind of scientific curiosity, but I am scared spit-less! Panic now, you won't have time later!

"Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!"

[JorgeV]

Hello-

If "we" survive this cataclysm, 1 billion year later, the sun will turn into a giant red, and eat all the planets of the solar, system, but, "we" might not see this, because, the sun is getting hotter, and in about 1 billion year from "now", the sun will be too hot for life on Earth : [universetoday.com...]

As a side note, at the scale of the Solar system, Mars is just next door, so do not expect to escape the apocalypse by immigrating there.

The end is nigh, good morning by the way :)

[lucy24]

Shrug. Long before then, Yellowstone's volcano will have erupted again (I believe it's something like every 700,000 years) so we will not be around to worry about Andromeda. At least not those of us in North America.

[Marshall]

As long as there is coffee it does not matter :)

[JorgeV]

As long as there is coffee it does not matter :)

[usatoday.com...]

Sorry, I feel like I am only bringing bad news today :)

[NickMNS]

1 billion year later, the sun will turn into a giant red

The heating of the sun over a span of a billion years does not seem so worrying, as there is plenty of time to allow for evolutionary adaption, which may include becoming more resistant to heat or developing technologies to travel to distant planets, solar systems or galaxy.

A sudden collision with another galaxy seems far more worrying, even though the event is expected further into the future leaving us with plenty of time to prepare. Look at how good we are at "preparing" for man made climate change. This eventual collision will be catastrophic in which case there will be no escape. Not to mention the fact that the impact will be felt across two galaxies. If anyone wants to make a run for it you will probably need to start running now.

On a more positive note, the Draconids meteor shower will be observable (in the northern hemisphere) at the beginning of next week.
[timeanddate.com...]

[LifeinAsia]

"The Milky Way is on a collision course with Andromeda in about four billion years,”

Crap, will have to send out change-of-address notifications AGAIN!

[iamlost]

"The Milky Way is on a collision course with Andromeda in about four billion years,”

There goes the neighbourhood.

[engine]

"The Milky Way is on a collision course with Andromeda in about four billion years,”

I've set up my camera for the photo opportunity.

[tangor]

I am honored to be among the few that know how to make lemonade when lemons are handed out!

[NickMNS]

I've set up my camera for the photo opportunity.

Time Lapse? 1 frame per century?

[lucy24]

1 frame per century?

Sure. Played back at 24 fps it will only take up a few weeks.

:: wandering off to deposit penny in bank account and book table in Restaurant at the End of the Universe ::

[tangor]

Table 42, right?