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| Galaxy's 'cannibalism' revealed | Galaxy's 'cannibalism' revealed |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The vast Andromeda galaxy appears to have expanded by digesting stars from other galaxies, research has shown. | The vast Andromeda galaxy appears to have expanded by digesting stars from other galaxies, research has shown. |
| When an international team of scientists mapped Andromeda, they discovered stars that they said were "remnants of dwarf galaxies". | When an international team of scientists mapped Andromeda, they discovered stars that they said were "remnants of dwarf galaxies". |
| The astronomers report their findings in the journal Nature. | The astronomers report their findings in the journal Nature. |
| This consumption of stars has been suggested previously, but the team's ultra-deep survey has provided detailed images to show that it took place. | This consumption of stars has been suggested previously, but the team's ultra-deep survey has provided detailed images to show that it took place. |
| This shows the "hierarchical model" of galaxy formation in action. | This shows the "hierarchical model" of galaxy formation in action. |
| The model predicts that large galaxies should be surrounded by relics of smaller galaxies they have consumed. | The model predicts that large galaxies should be surrounded by relics of smaller galaxies they have consumed. |
| Ironically, galaxy formation and galaxy destruction seem to go hand in hand Dr Scott ChapmanUniversity of Cambridge | Ironically, galaxy formation and galaxy destruction seem to go hand in hand Dr Scott ChapmanUniversity of Cambridge |
| The scientists charted the outskirts of Andromeda in detail for the first time. | The scientists charted the outskirts of Andromeda in detail for the first time. |
| They discovered stars that could not have formed within the galaxy itself. | They discovered stars that could not have formed within the galaxy itself. |
| Pauline Barmby, an astronomer from the University of Western Ontario who was involved in the study, told BBC News the pattern of the stars' orbits revealed their origin. | Pauline Barmby, an astronomer from the University of Western Ontario who was involved in the study, told BBC News the pattern of the stars' orbits revealed their origin. |
| "Andromeda is so close that we can map out all the stars," she said. | "Andromeda is so close that we can map out all the stars," she said. |
| "And when you see a sort of lump of stars that far out, and with the same orbit, you know they can't have been there forever." | "And when you see a sort of lump of stars that far out, and with the same orbit, you know they can't have been there forever." |
| Andromeda, which is approximately 2.5 million light years away from Earth, is still expanding, say the scientists. | |
| The researchers also saw a "stream of stars" of a nearby galaxy called Triangulum "stretching" towards Andromeda. | The researchers also saw a "stream of stars" of a nearby galaxy called Triangulum "stretching" towards Andromeda. |
| Dr Scott Chapman, reader in astrophysics at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, was also involved in the research. | Dr Scott Chapman, reader in astrophysics at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, was also involved in the research. |
| He said: "Ultimately, these two galaxies may end up merging completely. | He said: "Ultimately, these two galaxies may end up merging completely. |
| "Ironically, galaxy formation and galaxy destruction seem to go hand in hand." | "Ironically, galaxy formation and galaxy destruction seem to go hand in hand." |
| Nickolay Gnedin, an astrophysicist from the University of Chicago, who was not involved in this study, described the work as showing "galactic archaeology in action". | Nickolay Gnedin, an astrophysicist from the University of Chicago, who was not involved in this study, described the work as showing "galactic archaeology in action". |