Galaxies are grouped in clusters and filaments. These structures reveal interconnected structural networks without clear boundaries. Large regions of high concentrations of galaxies are known as superclusters. These galaxies form the Galaxy Heaven.
In this article we are going to explain what the Laniakea galaxy is, its characteristics, origin and much more.
What is the galaxy Laniakea
Laniakea is the name given to our local supergalaxy, an immense cosmic structure that contains the Milky Way, the galaxy in which our Solar System is located, and thousands of other nearby galaxies that are gravitationally connected to each other. This vast region of the universe It is characterized by its complexity and by the force of gravity that unites its components.
The term "Laniakea" comes from the Hawaiian and means "immense sky" or "conquer the sky." It was coined by astronomers in 2014 to describe the recent understanding of the distribution and organization of galaxies close to our own.
The discovery of Laniakea has revealed that the Milky Way and its neighbors are grouped in a kind of bubble or region of influence that spans approximately 520 million light-years across. This means that there is a gigantic cosmic web of galaxies in motion, and our Local Group is only one part of it.
Laniakea's existence allows us to better understand the large-scale structure of the universe and how galaxies clump together due to gravity. At the same time, it also highlights how vast and enigmatic our cosmos is, reminding us that we are just a tiny dot within this vast and mysterious expanse of space and time.
Characteristics, origin and location
Among the main characteristics of Laniakea, we find about 100.000 galaxies in it, and these galaxies move towards the interior of the structure, which is cosmic and contains the mass of about 100.000 trillion suns. When we analyze it from a human point of view, its size is quite unimaginable.
Just as the solar system lies on the outskirts of the Milky Way, our galaxy lies on the edge of Laniakea, far from the central stream of galaxies and what astronomers call the "great attractor."
Inside the Laniakea supercluster, the motion of the galaxies is inward, while the water follows the downward path of the valley, and the great attractor acts as a large flat-bottomed gravitational valley with its attractor sphere extending through the supercluster. of Laniakea.
The discovery of Laniakea made possible by data discovered by the CosmicFlows-2 project, which mapped the motion of thousands of galaxies near the great attractor. By analyzing the different motions described by each galaxy relative to the Earth and subtracting the motion of each galaxy due to the expansion of the universe, a highly accurate three-dimensional map of the distribution of motion of some galaxies relative to the Earth can be obtained. . We can find the Laniakea galaxy next to the giant Perseus-Pisces supercluster. And, along with the six million other superclusters being considered, they may be in a kind of web in which galaxies clump together, leaving vast "empty" spaces where we humans don't think any substance exists.
Structure and objects of Laniakea
Laniakea is organized in a structure called a "wall", a kind of agglomeration of galaxies that extends over enormous distances. This wall, known as the Laniakea Wall, is one of the largest known structures in the observable universe and It is approximately 500 million light years in size.
Within Laniakea, there are several galaxy clusters, which are massive groupings of galaxies that are held together by the force of gravity. One of the most notable galaxy clusters is the "Virgo Cluster," located about 50 million light-years away from Earth. The Virgo Cluster is the closest galaxy cluster to us and contains a large number of galaxies, including our own, the Milky Way.
In addition to the Virgo Cluster, other galaxy clusters are also found in Laniakea, as the "Hydra-Centaurus Cluster", one of the most massive and closest known clusters. These clusters, along with other groups and clusters of galaxies, are part of the complex cosmic web that characterizes Laniakea.
The gravity of this supergalaxy influences the movement and distribution of galaxies in its surroundings. This has led to the identification of a special point within Laniakea known as the "Speculation Point", a region towards which many galaxies, including the Milky Way, seem to be being pulled by gravity.
How important is all this?
Laniakea's importance lies in the fact that it represents a significant advance in our understanding of the large-scale structure of the universe and how galaxies are distributed and connected to each other through the force of gravity. Some of the reasons why Laniakea is relevant are the following:
- Cosmic structure: Laniakea shows us that the universe is organized in a hierarchy of large-scale structures. Galaxies are not randomly distributed, but are grouped into clusters and superclusters, forming a kind of interconnected cosmic web.
- Galactic context: By understanding Laniakea's structure, we can better understand the context in which our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is located and how it interacts with other nearby galaxies.
- Cosmology: Laniakea's study contributes to cosmology, the branch of astronomy concerned with the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe.
- gravity and dark energy: Observing and studying how Laniakea affects the movement of galaxies within its structure can help us better understand the nature of gravity and dark energy, two mysterious forces that influence the expansion of the universe and its evolution throughout weather.
- Search for other civilizations: Understanding the large-scale structure of the universe is also relevant in the search for other extraterrestrial civilizations.
- Scientific and educational inspiration: Laniakea reminds us of the vastness and complexity of the universe, which can inspire both scientists and astronomy enthusiasts to continue exploring and unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about Laniakea and its characteristics.