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Cannibal Galaxy the Biggest In the Near Universe

The Bad Astronomer writes "Astronomers have found the most massive galaxy in the near universe: an obese, bloated monster that may tip the cosmic scales at 13 trillion times the mass of the Sun, 20 times the mass of the entire Milky Way. The galaxy, called ESO 146-IG 005, sits at the center of a dense cluster of other (but much more lightweight) galaxies, and grew to its present size by eating the galaxies around it. In fact, the so-far undigested cores of at least five other galaxies are still easily seen in the cannibal's nucleus. Astronomers are having difficulty pinning down the galaxy's exact mass, but it's clearly the biggest bruiser within 1.5 billion light years of home."

15 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Should be named Homer Simpson by roman_mir · · Score: 5, Funny

    MMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Gaaaaalaaaaaxyyyyyyy

    om nom nom nom

  2. Now I'm Officially Scared by pipingguy · · Score: 1, Funny

    First global warming, now solar system-eating far galaxy monsters. What could possibly be worse?

    1. Re:Now I'm Officially Scared by spun · · Score: 4, Funny

      First global warming, now solar system-eating far galaxy monsters. What could possibly be worse?

      I'll take a shot at that: How about The Big Rip? Cosmic expansion increasing exponentially quickly so that every atom, no, every point of space time retreats from every other point faster than the speed of light. Everything in the universe ripping apart in an instant. OOoooohhhh! Scary!

      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    2. Re:Now I'm Officially Scared by interkin3tic · · Score: 5, Funny

      First global warming, now solar system-eating far galaxy monsters. What could possibly be worse?

      Total protonic reversal. Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light. That would be bad. [/ghostbusters]

  3. I, for once... by vagabond_gr · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... well, you know what

  4. Up goes the premium by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Just wait until the insurance companies hear about this.

  5. Time to update the joke by zill · · Score: 2, Funny

    Your mom is so fat...

  6. Re:Am I the only one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    No, but you are the first one here to misspell "whose". Well done.

  7. Re:Am I the only one by palegray.net · · Score: 2, Funny

    That sounds like a pretty bright idea!

  8. Oh come on... by otis+wildflower · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... It's just BIG BONED!

  9. Change one letter... by nebenfun · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh yeah! Survival of the fittest, bitches!

    Wouldn't that be survival of the fattest?

  10. Where's the CowboyNeal option? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Oh wait. This isn't a poll. Never mind.

  11. Obligatory. by Arancaytar · · Score: 2, Funny

    it's clearly the biggest bruiser within 1.5 billion light years of home

    Or it would be if it weren't for your mother.

  12. Old news by Frequency+Domain · · Score: 5, Funny

    This happened, like what, a billion and a half years ago?

  13. Re:Eating ? by El_Oscuro · · Score: 4, Funny

    You do realize that there is no actual food in Cheetos nor Mountain Dew, so your only option is to merge with them. If you actually tried to consume them, your small intestine would leap out and throttle your brain in an desperate attempt to save humanity.

    --
    "Be grateful for what you have. You may never know when you may lose it."