Which of the following patterns in the Milky Way structure is consistent with the idea that the Milky Way has not suffered a major collision with another massive galaxy?
A) The halo is full of old stars orbiting in many different directions.
B) The disk is composed of stars of many different ages.
C) The disk is composed of stars orbiting in the same plane, same direction.
D) Globular clusters are compact groups of thousands of stars.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the Milky Way had suffered a major collision with another massive galaxy, the stars in the disk would be expected to have random orbits in different directions. The fact that the stars in the disk all orbit in the same plane and the same direction suggests that the Milky Way has not suffered a major collision. The other options are not necessarily inconsistent with a lack of major collisions.

Which of the Following Patterns in the Milky Way Structure