Milky Way Merged with Ancient Galaxy 11.8 Billion Years Ago

Astronomers using the NASA Hubble Space Telescope have identified evidence of the oldest known galaxy collision involving the Milky Way, revealing that our galaxy absorbed a smaller neighbor approximately 11,8 billion years ago.

Detection and Timeline of the Ancient Merger

Observations from the Hubble Space Telescope point to a major galactic collision taking place roughly 11,8 billion years ago.

Cosmological Significance and Structural Impact

Astrophysicists analyzing the data suggest that the collision was violent enough to potentially turn parts of the early Milky Way upside down. Research published across scientific outlets notes that studying this event helps cosmologists understand how early galaxies grew through frequent cannibalization of smaller stellar systems.