A recent study has shed light on the early history of the Milky Way galaxy, revealing a significant event that occurred over 11.8 billion years ago. Scientists have uncovered evidence that the Milky Way absorbed a smaller galaxy classified as a dwarf galaxy, around a quarter of its size at the time. Through the use of advanced telescopes, researchers analyzed stellar clusters within the Milky Way’s innermost 20,000 light-years, determining their age, chemical composition, and trajectory.
This galactic merger, known as the galaxy Low-energy-Kraken-Heracles (LKH), played a crucial role in the Milky Way’s growth by introducing a substantial amount of stars, interstellar gas, and dark matter. Lead author Davide Massari emphasized the peaceful nature of the merger in terms of star collisions, while noting a more explosive interaction between the gas components of the two galaxies, fueling star formation.
The study also highlighted the Milky Way’s involvement in two other significant mergers with Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus and the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy. Massari pointed out that these merger events have influenced the formation of our solar system and Earth, underscoring the importance of understanding the galaxy’s past in unraveling the mysteries of our origins.