Not "a" merging galaxy - merging galaxies. Sometimes two (or even more) galaxies collide, and eventually combine (i.e., "merge") into a single galaxy.
Not at the moment but in about 5 billion years it will merge with the Andromeda galaxy.
The closest other galaxy to us would be the Canis Major Dwarf galaxy. It is only about 25,000 light years away (it is currently merging with the Milky Way).
The Andromeda Galaxy is moving towards our Milky Way galaxy at a speed of about 110 km/s. This movement is called the "Andromeda-Milky Way collision." Scientists predict that the two galaxies will collide in about 4 billion years, merging into a single galaxy.
Galaxies get bigger by a process of merging. The gravitational attraction of the galaxy and the dark matter round it pull in satellite galaxies and these merge with the main galaxy. Eventually large galaxies merge to form large elliptical galaxies. look at the link below.
In 1785 a star study of the heavens produced a star map of the Milky Way Galaxy that slightly resembled an amoeba (micro biologists might disagree) [See link] Since the Hubble telescope, no galaxy has been found, yet, that resembles an amoeba. There is a possibility than an a irregular or a merging galaxy might resemble one, one day.
Merging Cells
The Andromeda galaxy is moving towards us (The Milky Way Galaxy) at about 432,000 kph. It's expected to start merging in around 3 -> 4 billion years time.
No they are competitors and are not merging
It's the fanciful, sensationalist, attention-grabbing term coined by some reporter, to describe the process when one galaxy collides with another galaxy, merging the two into one giant, irregular galaxy.
No, on the contrary, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is getting closer and closer. It is estimated that in about 3 billion years both galaxies might start merging. This is hard to ascertain, because the sideways component of the speed is hard to calculate accurately. But in any case, in 3 billion years the Andromeda Galaxy will be much closer to us than it is now.No, on the contrary, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is getting closer and closer. It is estimated that in about 3 billion years both galaxies might start merging. This is hard to ascertain, because the sideways component of the speed is hard to calculate accurately. But in any case, in 3 billion years the Andromeda Galaxy will be much closer to us than it is now.No, on the contrary, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is getting closer and closer. It is estimated that in about 3 billion years both galaxies might start merging. This is hard to ascertain, because the sideways component of the speed is hard to calculate accurately. But in any case, in 3 billion years the Andromeda Galaxy will be much closer to us than it is now.No, on the contrary, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is getting closer and closer. It is estimated that in about 3 billion years both galaxies might start merging. This is hard to ascertain, because the sideways component of the speed is hard to calculate accurately. But in any case, in 3 billion years the Andromeda Galaxy will be much closer to us than it is now.
Not just dwarf galaxies. Giant elliptical galaxies lie likely the result of many galaxies, small and large, merging.
Yes. Be careful to mind drivers while merging, they could be switching lanes as you merge.