Dwarf galaxy

Still frame from a University of Sydney animation, showing how Andromeda may have destroyed the dwarf galaxies

Space

New research reveals Andromeda's feeding habits

A new study has revealed the violent past of the Andromeda galaxy, by identifying the remains of its galactic victims.

An artist's rendition of ripples in the outer disc of the Milky Way, which are believed to have been caused by a collision with the "ghost" galaxy Antlia 2

Space

Milky Way still reeling from impact with "ghost galaxy"

Last year astronomers discovered a gigantic “ghost” galaxy, named Antlia 2, orbiting the Milky Way. Now, new research led by Rochester University has found that the bizarre galaxy may have been involved in a hit-and-run that left the Milky Way with a wobbly galactic disc.

A computer simulation of a spiral galaxy, like the Milky Way, forming. These simulations suggest that the outer halo is made up of stars from other galaxies

Space

Star unlike any found in the Milky Way appears to be an intergalactic intruder

Astronomers have discovered a star in the Milky Way that doesn’t belong. Known as J1124+4535, the star has a chemical composition unlike any others ever observed in our home galaxy, suggesting it’s an intergalactic interloper that may have come from a dwarf galaxy swallowed up by the Milky Way.

An artist's imagining of the night sky from Earth as the Milky Way collides with neighboring galaxy Andromeda – a new study shows that the Large Magellanic Cloud will also smash into the Milky Way much sooner

Space

Neighboring galaxy found to be on a collision course with the Milky Way

According to a new study, the Large Magellanic Cloud, a nearby dwarf galaxy, is on a collision course with the Milky Way. But there’s no need to worry just yet – the starry smashup won’t begin for another two billion years or so.

The new galaxy, named Antlia 2 (right) is extremely faint compared to the Milky Way (middle) and the Large Magellanic Cloud (left)

Space

Gigantic "ghost" galaxy spotted circling the Milky Way

Astronomers have spotted a mysterious “ghost” galaxy orbiting the Milky Way. Huge but extremely faint, the oddball galaxy has been named Antlia 2, and it might just be weird enough to force us to rethink what we know about galactic physics and dark matter.

Space

Hypervelocity alien stars could be invading the Milky Way

Astronomers have discovered a population of incredibly fast-moving stars bearing down on the Milky Way. It is possible that these newly found "hypervelocity" stellar bodies were created in another galaxy, before being hurled out into intergalactic space on a collision course with the Milky Way.

An artist's impression of a collision between the Milky Way and a smaller dwarf galaxy, such as that which occurred about eight to 10 billion years ago

Space

Milky Way still bears the 10-billion-year-old scars of a galactic collision

An international team of astronomers has now found evidence of a celestial smash-up between the Milky Way and an unknown dwarf galaxy that took place around eight to 10 billion years ago, and forever changed the face of our home galaxy.

Mosaic view of the Tarantula Nebula and its surroundings

Space

Astronomers capture exquisite view of Tarantula Nebula

Astronomers have captured the most detailed view to date of the region of space surrounding the famous Tarantula Nebula – a 1,000 light-year wide swirling cloud of cosmic gas, the core of which is illuminated by some of the brightest and most massive stars ever detected.

The fastest stars in the Milky Way might not actually be from this galaxy, according to new research

Space

Hypervelocity stars are intergalactic runaways with a troubled past

While most stars are content with their place, hypervelocity stars are zipping through the universe fast enough to leave their home galaxy. It’s a mystery how they reached such speeds and where they came from. Now, astronomers from the University of Cambridge believe they’ve found the answers.

Space

Metal-poor galaxy could help test the Big Bang theory

A team of astronomers has discovered a faint blue dwarf galaxy nicknamed Leoncino or the "little lion," that could be used as a tool to test the Big Bang Theory.

X-ray image of galaxy NGC 2276 (Image:NASA/CXC/SAO/M.Mezcua et al & NASA/CXC/INAF/A.Wolter)

Space

NASA aims to unlock mysteries of celestial giants by observing rare black hole

NASA scientists are hoping to unravel the evolutionary and environmental impact of celestial giants by observing an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH), sitting 100 million light years away in the spiral arm of galaxy NGC 2276.

Artists impression of M60-UCD1 – a dwarf galaxy with a supermassive black hole at its center (Image: NASA/ESA)

Space

Dwarf galaxy suggests black holes may be more common than previously thought

M60-UCD1, a galaxy approximately 54 million light years from our solar system, has been found to contain a black hole with a mass equivalent to 21 million times that of our own sun and whose presence may suggest that such enormous black holes could be more common than previously thought.