Introduction to Astronomy – October 2020

The Andromeda Galaxy Halo – Discoveries from a recent study

Our nearest large spiral galaxy, Andromeda, is surrounded by an immense halo of gas. Recently, a group of astronomers, using the Hubble Space Telescope, studied light from distant quasars to characterise and map this gas out to two million light-years from the galaxy.

Tonight’s online talk by Chris Benton discusses Andromeda and how it relates to The Milky Way galaxy in The Local Group cluster. A review of main galaxy types and their general structure follows along with an overview of quasars and their central role in astronomical studies. A summary of the Andromeda galaxy halo study results then precedes comments on the significance of these new findings.

Join us online to review the basics of galaxies, The Local Group and quasars, followed by current knowledge on the halos of spiral galaxies. See how the inevitable Andromeda-Milky Way galaxy-merger is now underway!