The Fate of the Milky Way–Andromeda System: To Merge or Not?

The Fate of the Milky Way–Andromeda System: To Merge or Not?

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31), the nearest massive spiral galaxy to the Milky Way, provides a unique laboratory for studying galaxy formation and evolution.
Its proximity allows us to resolve individual stars and stellar populations, offering an external perspective that naturally complements studies of our own Galaxy.
In this talk, I will present several recent efforts from our team to advance our understanding of M31, including:
(1) the LAMOST spectroscopic survey of supergiant stars in M31 and M33;
(2) measurements of the proper motions of M31 and M33 using Gaia DR3;
(3) a newly derived rotation curve of M31; and
(4) an updated assessment of the merger probability between M31 and the Milky Way.
I will conclude with a brief outlook on promising directions for M31 research over the next five years.

Sebastián López
Coordinador de Coloquios
DAS/UChile  – slopez@das.uchile.cl