NASA computer simulates the life span of a galaxy

These wacky single disk galaxies, am I right people?  For those who don’t know, the Milky Way is a single disk galaxy.  For those who don’t know, the Earth, that place we live (even you), is in the Milky Way.  So if A + B = C, then we live in a single disk galaxy.  Science!

Speaking rocket science, NASA’s super computer Pleiades had spent 1 million CPU hours to simulate the creation and life of a single disk galaxy.  This video simulates 13.5 billion years ago and catches up to present day.  No, the Galaxy doesn’t get destroyed by the end.  Personally, I found it to be quite hypnotizing and beautiful. 

For those trying to figuring out the video below:

• Red – old starts
• White and Bright Blue – young stars
• Pale Blue – gas density
• The view is 300,000 light years across

It’s still spinning!

[Gizmodo via YouTube]