Unveiling Milky Way's Origins

• 23 Mar 2024

Astronomers identify Shiva and Shakti as potential earliest building blocks of the Milky Way, shedding light on its cosmic ancestry.

Key Points

• Galactic Merger Remnants: Shiva and Shakti, remnants of galaxies merging with the Milky Way 12-13 billion years ago, discovered by Max Planck Institute astronomers.
• Cosmic Archaeology: Combining Gaia satellite and SDSS survey data, astronomers liken the discovery to finding traces of an initial settlement that grew into a metropolitan city, unveiling cosmic history.
• Stars from Predecessor Galaxies: Collision and merger dynamics lead to the formation of new stars, with some retaining properties linked to their original galaxies, aiding in identifying stellar origins.
• Clues from Basic Physics: Basic physics principles, including conservation of angular momentum and energy, help identify stars from predecessor galaxies amidst the merged stellar population.
• Data Analysis Insights: Combining Gaia and SDSS data, researchers observe specific combinations of energy and angular momentum among metal-poor stars, indicating the presence of Shiva and Shakti.
• Cosmic Growth Initiators: Researchers propose Shiva and Shakti as the earliest additions to the Milky Way, initiating its growth towards a larger galaxy, unveiling pivotal moments in cosmic evolution.