Collision Of Existences

The world as we know it started with the Big Bang; the collision of particles which grew and expanded until it created: the Earth, our solar system, the Milky Way and hundreds of other galaxies which haven’t even been discovered by mankind. This means there are thousands of planets and stars that have yet to be uncovered. This also creates the theory that there may be other universes; the possibility of a multiverse. A whole different version of ourselves could exist but with some variation - similar to how we know it, but with changes that differentiate us from them.

We are slowly moving further and further away from the singular point that connects the universe. In 1924, the astronomer Edwin Hubble revealed that the Milky Way is not the only galaxy, that ‘We Are Not Alone’ - completely changing how we look at the boundless universe. He created a monumental jump in astronomy in the 1920s.

The neighbouring galaxy to ours is ‘Andromeda’, which is twice the size of th

e Milky Way. Andromeda is one of the few galaxies that we are able to see with the naked eye. It was first mentioned by Islamic astronomer Abd Al-Rahman Al Sufi, in 965CE, but then rediscovered by a German astronomer in 1612. It is located 2,480,000 light-years from Earth.

Because Andromeda is so close to us, both galaxies are in fact attracting each other due to their gravitational pull. This effect has already begun, however we don’t feel anything as we are so tiny relative to the grand scheme of things. In a few hundred years our galaxies would collide forming a black hole.

Black holes are the opposite of galaxies, instead of pushing out, they pull everything in towards the centre. Resulting in the destruction of planets and all life, including life which may or may not be present in Andromeda. However, this will occur 4 billion years from now. When it does happen, if mankind has survived until then, we would be completely wiped out.

The Earth lies in our solar system, which lies in the Milky Way which lies in a collection of other galaxies. The biggest one known to us is, ‘Alcyoneus’. Its size is almost 16 million light-years, which is much much larger than the Milky Way. We are so much tinier than we can imagine. Centuries have passed and our skies are different, we can no longer follow the stars as they have changed, they have moved. This doesn’t change much for Vedic signs as these are based on calculations on the position of the planets while zodiac signs have changed as these are based on the Babylonian star catalogues. The Vedic signs are more accurate than the Zodiac, as they are based on present-day locations, while the Zodiac is based on the location of stars from millennia ago. Regardless, the changing skies would mean that the future of astrology would change.

Before our eyes, our galaxy was changing, slowly. Whether that be our stars or our theory of the universe. We are intertwined in some way, but destined to go further and further away from each other.

Demira Govind 11F