Pisces–Cetus Supercluster Complex

The Pisces–Cetus Supercluster Complex is a galaxy filament. It includes the Virgo Supercluster which in turn contains the Local Group, the galaxy cluster that includes the Milky Way. (However, a 2014 study indicates that the Virgo Supercluster is only a lobe of a greater supercluster, Laniakea.)[1][2]

Discovery

Astronomer R. Brent Tully of the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Astronomy identified the Complex in 1987.[3]

Extent

The Pisces–Cetus Supercluster Complex is estimated to be about 1.0 billion light-years (Gly) long and 150 million light years (Mly) wide. It is one of the largest structures known in the observable universe, but is exceeded by the Sloan Great Wall (1.3 Gly), Clowes–Campusano LQG (2.0 Gly), U1.11 LQG (2.5 Gly), Huge-LQG (4.0 Gly), and Hercules–Corona Borealis Great Wall (10 Gly), respectively.

The complex comprises about 60 clusters and is estimated to have a total mass of 1018 M☉.[4] According to the discoverer, the complex is composed of 5 parts:

  1. The Pisces-Cetus Supercluster
  2. The Perseus-Pegasus chain, including the Perseus-Pisces Supercluster
  3. The Pegasus-Pisces chain
  4. The Sculptor region, including the Sculptor Supercluster and Hercules Supercluster
  5. The Virgo–Hydra-Centaurus Supercluster, which contains our Virgo Supercluster (Local Supercluster) as well as the Hydra-Centaurus Supercluster.[4]

With its mass of 1015 M☉, our Virgo Supercluster accounts only for 0.1 percent of the total mass of the complex.

The complex was named after the Pisces-Cetus Superclusters, which are its richest superclusters.

Image

The Pisces-Cetus Supercluster Complex is the very long chain of galaxies from the Pisces-Cetus Superclusters, Sculptor Superclusters, the Perseus-Pisces Supercluster and the Virgo-Hydra-Centaurus Superclusters.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tully, R. B., Courtois, H., Hoffman, Y & Pomarède, D. Nature 513, 71–73 (2014).
  2. ↑ Tully, R. B. (1986-04-01). "Alignment of clusters and galaxies on scales up to 0.1 C". The Astrophysical Journal 303: 25–38. Bibcode:1986ApJ...303...25T. doi:10.1086/164049. Retrieved 2011-05-03.
  3. ↑ John Noble Wilford (November 10, 1987). "Massive Clusters of Galaxies Defy Concepts of the Universe". New York Times.
  4. 1 2 Tully, R. Brent (1987-12-01). "More about clustering on a scale of 0.1 C". The Astrophysical Journal 323: 1–18. Bibcode:1987ApJ...323....1T. doi:10.1086/165803. Retrieved 2011-05-03.
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