This Week in Astronomy: The Fate of Milky Way, The Biggest Map of The Universe and A New Eye on the Universe

This episode explores the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of our universe. First, we delve into the surprising new research challenging the long-held belief of an inevitable head-on collision between the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, revealing a more uncertain cosmic dance. Then, we journey to the far reaches of space with the release of COSMOS-Web, the largest map of the universe ever created using the James Webb Space Telescope, which is already upending our understanding of early galaxy formation. Finally, we look to the near future with the imminent unveiling of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's first images, an astronomical marvel poised to revolutionize our understanding of dark energy, dark matter, and the transient universe, all while navigating the growing challenge of light pollution.