Science
Related: About this forumScientists find galaxy supercluster as massive as 26 quadrillion suns
By Robert Lea published 4 hours ago
The Einasto Supercluster is so vast that it would take a light signal 360 million years to get from one end to the other.
A black screen with lots of golden speckled dots. One area of the scene is zoomed-in with a box to the right.
The Einasto supercluster located 3 billion light-years away and containing a mass equivelent to 26 quadrillion suns (Image credit: Shishir Sankhyayan)
Astronomers have discovered a cavalcade of monster galaxy superclusters, incredibly massive collections of galaxies and galaxy clusters in the universe.
The most striking example of these 662 new superclusters is located around 3 billion light-years away from Earth and has been named the "Einasto Supercluster." This particular supercluster is named in honor of Estonian astrophysicist Jaan Einasto, one of the discoverers of the large-scale structure of the universe.
The Einasto Supercluster is staggering in terms of its sheer size and mass. It contains the same mass as around 26 quadrillion suns (26 followed by 15 zeroes). This supercluster is so vast, in fact, that it would take a light signal 360 million years to travel from one side of it to the other.
The findings could help scientists better understand how these vast collections of galaxies come together. Down the line, it could also help answer questions about dark matter and dark energy.
More:
https://www.space.com/einasto-supercluster-galaxy-26-quadrillion-suns
lastlib
(24,915 posts)Our "pale blue dot" becomes smaller and less significant every day.
Thank you, Judi! Your posts are informative, and a lot of fun! - - -
Faux pas
(15,368 posts)AllaN01Bear
(23,053 posts)Bayard
(24,145 posts)And yet, we're the only intelligent beings in the universe.