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January 14, 2008
Milky Way to be Gassed in 20-40 Million Years
Dubbed "Smith's Cloud", it may set off spectacular fireworks when it smacks into our galaxy in 20-40 million years.
It contains enough hydrogen to produce a million stars like our Sun, researchers believe.
When it does fully interact with our galaxy, the cloud could indeed set off a new burst of star formation in the Milky Way.
[...]
The team's new measurements also demonstrate that the cloud is 11,000 light-years long and 2,500 light-years wide.
The monster cosmic "fog bank" is careering towards our galaxy at more than 240km/s (150 miles/s) and is set to strike the Milky Way at an angle of 45 degrees.
Broadly speaking, the cloud is currently rotating with our galaxy, but is also moving in towards it. Astronomers can see a wall of gas being ploughed up as Smith's Cloud thuds into the outskirts of our galaxy's atmosphere.
(via bbc news)
Posted by Groonk at January 14, 2008 08:11 AM | Ministry of Science
