A new study published in Nature Astronomy challenges the long-held belief that the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies will inevitably collide. Researchers, accounting for uncertainties in previous measurements and the gravitational influence of other galaxies like the Triangulum and Large Magellanic Cloud, found only a 50% chance of a merger within the next 10 billion years. The study incorporated a wider range of possibilities, showing that the galaxies might instead enter a long-term orbit. Even if a collision occurs, it's unlikely to be disastrous for Earth, resulting in the formation of a larger elliptical galaxy.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.