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Unveiling the Fate of Dwarf Galaxies: A Paradigm Shift in Galactic Evolution
For decades, scientists believed that the dwarf galaxies surrounding the Milky Way were ancient celestial companions, steadfastly orbiting our galaxy for nearly 10 billion years. The prevailing assumption was that these dwarf galaxies contained significant amounts of dark matter, protecting them from the gravitational tidal forces exerted by the Milky Way.
However, a groundbreaking study fueled by the latest data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia satellite challenges this long-standing narrative, suggesting that most dwarf galaxies may be on the brink of destruction shortly after entering the Galactic halo.
Gaia’s Revelation
The recent findings, spearheaded by astronomers from the Paris Observatory, the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), and the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP), utilized the wealth of data provided by the Gaia satellite. Instead of conforming to the traditional view, the study hinged on dating the history of the Milky Way by examining the orbital energy of dwarf galaxies and the time of their entry into the Galactic halo.
Recent Arrivals and Galactic Transformations
Contrary to the long-standing belief in ancient dwarf galaxies, the study suggests that most…
