During the merger, stars and dark matter in each galaxy become affected by the approaching galaxy. Toward the late stages of the merger, the gravitational potential begins changing so quickly that star …

6 days ago · Scientists at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and collaborating institutions have confirmed the first-known case of three radio-emitting active galactic nuclei (AGN) within a single …

Astronomers see galaxy interaction and merging throughout the universe. In particular, large galaxies formed by merging with smaller galaxies over billions of years.

8 hours ago · Astronomers using the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Long Baseline Array have discovered the first confirmed system of three radio-bright active galactic nuclei—revealing how …

Jun 4, 2025 · Galaxies evolve through gravitational interaction with their neighbors, creating a menagerie of forms. Astronomer Edwin Hubble pioneered the study of galaxies based simply on their …

Jul 11, 2023 · Finding an apparent triple merger such as this is exciting but not unexpected. Based on most models, astronomers expect to discover an ever greater fraction of galaxies crashing into each …

When galaxies of comparable size collide and coalesce we call it a merger, but when a small galaxy is swallowed by a much larger one, we use the term galactic cannibalism.

Nov 10, 2025 · A galaxy merger is a cosmic event in which two or more galaxies collide and eventually merge into a single, larger galaxy. This process is a common occurrence in the universe and plays a …

While galaxy mergers are huge, splashy events that completely reshape entire galaxies on scales of hundreds of thousands of light-years and can spark massive bursts of star formation, accreting black …

Jul 3, 2025 · Galaxies merge due to the gravitational attraction between them. When galaxies come too close, their mutual gravity pulls them together. Over time, they lose their original shapes and can …