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Milky Way May Have a Hidden Neighbor

Scientist think another galaxy could be cause of odd gravitational pull

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 30, 2007 7:22 PM CST

(Newser) – We may have new neighbors. Astronomers think they've discovered the cause of a peculiar gravitational pull on the Milky Way—it's another galaxy hidden behind a giant cloud of cosmic dust, the New Scientist reports. The new galaxy could be as close as 3 million light years away, a relative hop, skip, and a jump.

"We are ignorant about our immediate neighborhood behind the Milky Way," said one of the scientists proposing the theory. He said a radio survey could peer through the dust and confirm or reject the theory. The gravitational pull also could be caused by a hidden cluster of smaller galaxies further away, the scientists said.

The Milky Way Galaxy.
The Milky Way Galaxy.   (nasa.gov)
The Andromeda galaxy is seen here in infrared. An equally massive galaxy could be lurking nearby the Milky Way, explaining a mysterious gravitational pull.
The Andromeda galaxy is seen here in infrared. An equally massive galaxy could be lurking nearby the Milky Way, explaining a mysterious gravitational pull.   (nasa.gov)
Is there a hidden galaxy near our own Milky Way. Scientists are beginning to think so.
Is there a hidden galaxy near our own Milky Way. Scientists are beginning to think so.   (nasa.gov)
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