Two Giant Galaxies Spin in a Cosmic Waltz ⚡ экспресс
The Centaurus A and M83 galaxies form one of the most massive pairs in the nearby Universe. Although their apparent speeds didn't hint at mutual attraction, analysis showed they're moving closer — like a cosmic dance, similar to the approaching Milky Way and Andromeda. Using the 'timing argument' method, calibrated with the AbacusSummit simulation, scientists calculated the total mass of the system: (6.36 ± 1.30) × 10¹² solar masses, assuming the radial velocity is directed toward the center of mass. This mass is backed by independent estimates, and the system itself turns out to be an analog of the Local Group, with galaxy NGC 4945 playing the role of a perturber, much like the Large Magellanic Cloud.
Centaurus A and M83, the two largest galaxies in our neighborhood, are locked in a slow waltz. Once thought to be independent, it’s now clear they’re held by gravity and drifting together, destined to merge billions of years from now. It’s the same script that awaits the Milky Way and Andromeda.
By analyzing light, astronomers measured how fast the galaxies are moving. Then, picturing them like two balls connected by a spring, they estimated a total mass of 6.4 trillion Suns. Most of that is invisible matter—without it, there simply wouldn’t be enough gravity to hold the pair.
There’s even a third partner in this dance: galaxy NGC 4945, which tugs slightly on Centaurus A. But here’s the real surprise: when these galaxies finally collide, the stars themselves will barely touch—the distances between them are immense. Instead, vast gas clouds will compress, triggering the birth of millions of new stars. This heavenly waltz won’t end in catastrophe, but in a burst of stellar fireworks.
🎯 Vera Rubin proved that galaxies spin so fast they would fly apart without an invisible scaffold of dark matter holding them together.
🎬 A slow cosmic collision is a classic sci-fi theme—most famously in Carl Sagan’s novel ‘Contact’.