New tidal streams found in Andromeda reveal history of galactic mergers
Thursday, January 7, 2010 - 16:14
in Astronomy & Space
(PhysOrg.com) -- An international team of astronomers has identified two new tidal streams in the Andromeda galaxy, the remnants of dwarf galaxies consumed by our large galactic neighbor. Analysis of the stars in Andromeda's tidal streams and other components of its extended halo is yielding new insights into the processes involved in the formation and evolution of massive galaxies, said Puragra Guhathakurta, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz.