A video of a galaxy forming in anastrophysical simulation.
Since our Universe moves too slowly to watch, faster-moving computer simulations are created to help find out. This video from the IllustrisTNG simulations tracks gas from the early universe until today. As the simulation begins, ambient gas falls into and accumulates in a region of relatively high gravity. After a few billion years, a well-defined center materializes from a strange and fascinating cosmic dance. Gas blobs – some representing small satellite galaxies – continue to fall into and become absorbed by the rotating galaxy as the present epoch is reached and the video ends.

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