<p>Relatively high-resolution measurements were made with the Hubble Space Telescope over a 8 year period. From these measurements, astronomers determined that the collision was a certainty.  It is predicted to occur in about 4 billion years. I suppose there may be some astronomers who disagree with the measurements or calculations but I can find no mention of that. The results were reported in an article in "Nature" (<a href="http://www.nature.com/news/andromeda-on-collision-course-with-the-milky-way-1.10765#/b1" rel="noreferrer">http://www.nature.com/news/andromeda-on-collision-course-with-the-milky-way-1.10765#/b1</a>) and published in "Astrophysical Journal"  Both are well-respected publications. The "Astrophysical Journal" reference is below.</p>

<p>Sangmo Tony Sohn; Jay Anderson; Roeland van der Marel (Jul 1, 2012). "The M31 velocity vector. I. Hubble Space Telescope proper-motion measurements". The Astrophysical Journal. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/753/1/7.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-19T13:16:50.060Z
Just added them to answer.
Natsfan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-25T05:22:11.083Z
Here's a nice little "You Tube" explaining how Hubble observations showed that it is coming right for us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8YQsFZyGzw
Jack R. Woods
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-19T01:57:06.293Z
2017-07-19T13:15:48.373Z
2017-07-19T13:15:48.373Z
Natsfan
<p>Most astronomers say it is likely to happen. Is this true? Are there any scientists that reject this?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-19T01:26:30.863Z
There are, I'm sure, *scientists* that are not even aware of, and likely are completely uninterested in, the question of whether or not Andromeda and the Milky Way will collide.
Alfred Centauri
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-19T13:47:08.430Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's a political question
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-20T20:04:18.703Z
It's not, that is a paranoid assumption, such an insinuation would be perfidious. it is clearly a slightly vague and unfocused phrasing. the question is obviously about measurement of galaxy motions, and it's a good question.
bandybabboon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-20T20:08:08.800Z
read the study, awesome link. it's a balance of transverse and perspective motion, to know it's trajectory. always a good excuse to see this image of the future sky: http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/files/2015/03/654291main_p1220bk.jpg
bandybabboon
<galaxy><milky-way>
Do most astronomers think that Andromeda will collide with Milky Way?
Sue K Dccia
# Do most astronomers think that Andromeda will collide with Milky Way?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-19)

Most astronomers say it is likely to happen. Is this true? Are there any scientists that reject this?

**Tags:** galaxy, milky-way

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There are, I'm sure, *scientists* that are not even aware of, and likely are completely uninterested in, the question of whether or not Andromeda and the Milky Way will collide.  
> **username_2**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's a political question  
> **username_3**: It's not, that is a paranoid assumption, such an insinuation would be perfidious. it is clearly a slightly vague and unfocused phrasing. the question is obviously about measurement of galaxy motions, and it's a good question.  
> **username_3**: read the study, awesome link. it's a balance of transverse and perspective motion, to know it's trajectory. always a good excuse to see this image of the future sky: http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/files/2015/03/654291main_p1220bk.jpg  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-07-19. Score: 8

Relatively high-resolution measurements were made with the Hubble Space Telescope over a 8 year period. From these measurements, astronomers determined that the collision was a certainty. It is predicted to occur in about 4 billion years. I suppose there may be some astronomers who disagree with the measurements or calculations but I can find no mention of that. The results were reported in an article in "Nature" (<http://www.nature.com/news/andromeda-on-collision-course-with-the-milky-way-1.10765#/b1>) and published in "Astrophysical Journal" Both are well-respected publications. The "Astrophysical Journal" reference is below.

Sangmo Tony Sohn; Jay Anderson; Roeland van der Marel (Jul 1, 2012). "The M31 velocity vector. I. Hubble Space Telescope proper-motion measurements". The Astrophysical Journal. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/753/1/7.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Just added them to answer.  
> **username_5**: Here's a nice little "You Tube" explaining how Hubble observations showed that it is coming right for us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8YQsFZyGzw  

---

