PBS Space Time PBS Space Time

The Evolution of the Modern Milky Way Galaxy

Oct 24, 2026 · 26m

Summary

This episode explores the violent history of the Milky Way through "galactic forensics," using data from the Gaia Space Telescope to reconstruct past mergers like the massive Gaia Enceladus collision and the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy's impact on star formation. The host details how these events shaped the galaxy's structure, including the thick disk, and predicts the future merger with the Magellanic Clouds and Andromeda.

Topics discussed

Sponsors: Workday and Subaru Observing the Magellanic Clouds in Chile Galactic Cannibalism and the Milky Way's Future Anatomy of the Milky Way: Disk, Bulge, and Halo Galaxy Evolution: Bottom-Up Assembly Sponsors: Workday, Subaru, and Sephora Stellar Archaeology: Forensic Evidence of Mergers Identifying Mergers via Metallicity and Orbits The Gaia Enceladus Merger and Halo Stars Origin of the Milky Way's Thick Disk Tidal Streams from Dwarf Galaxy Mergers Sponsors: Workday, Subaru, and Sephora The Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy and Disk Warps Sagittarius Impact on Solar System Formation Future Merger with the Magellanic Clouds The Andromeda Collision and Local Group Search Tool and Comment Response Introduction Sponsors: Workday and Subaru Sponsor: Sephora Comments: Gas Giants, Fermi Paradox, and Moon Comments: Expansion in Bound Systems and Dark Energy Warning Against Science Misinformation Sponsors: Workday and Subaru Sponsor: Sephora Sponsors: LinkedIn and McDonald's Sponsor: Kuvasier Cognac
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