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Milky Way flipped in collision with dwarf galaxy 10bn years ago, astronomers say

The Guardian UK Tuesday 21 July 2026, 15:00 UTC By Ian Sample Science editor 1 min read
Key Points

Durham University researchers find cataclysmic direct hit with Gaia Sausage sent Milky Way into its current positionAstronomers have found evidence that the Milky Way was flipped on its side following a direct hit from a wayward galaxy long before the solar system was born. The cataclysmic collision took place about 10bn years ago when the Milky Way was struck head-on by an incoming dwarf galaxy known – for purely astronomical reasons – as the Gaia Sausage.

Durham University researchers find cataclysmic direct hit with Gaia Sausage sent Milky Way into its current position

Astronomers have found evidence that the Milky Way was flipped on its side following a direct hit from a wayward galaxy long before the solar system was born.

The cataclysmic collision took place about 10bn years ago when the Milky Way was struck head-on by an incoming dwarf galaxy known – for purely astronomical reasons – as the Gaia Sausage.

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Durham University (ORG) Gaia (ORG)
Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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