The largest known structure of the universe

Astronomers have identified unprecedented Cosmic titan—A vast superstructure of galaxies that stretch 1.3 billion light years Through, which makes it the largest known structure of the universe. Appointed QuipuAfter the Inca of knotted cables used to count, this Colossal filamentary web It contains an unimaginable 200 billion solar masses And more than 13,000 times the length of the Milky Way.

What is Quipu? A cosmic giant hidden in sight

Quipu is not just a Supercluator-It’s a Galaxies and filaments groups superstructure That form an interconnected network that covers more than one billion light years. Unlike the traditional Galaxies groupsthat are well united by gravity, Quipu consists of a Long and long central filament With multiple branching filaments, just like a woven cord.

This immense structure was not discovered through traditional detection algorithms, but it was Visibly apparent on the maps of heaven of Galaxies groups in a specific red displacement range. The research team said Quipu immediately stood outindicating its extraordinary prominence in the cosmos.

The new hierarchy of cosmic giants

Before this discovery, the largest cosmic formations included:

• Laniākea Supercluster – The vast region of the galaxies that includes ours Milky Waystretching 500 million light years across.
• Shaley Supercluster – One of the dense and massive superclusters, previously considered the largest known structure.
• The great wall of Hercules-Corona Boreal – A massive galaxies concentration 10 billion light years awaycovering up 10 billion light yearsalthough its existence remains debated.

However, Quipu and four newly discovered structures Excellent Shaley Superclusterremodeling our understanding of the distribution of large -scale matter of the universe.

These five newly classified Superstructures include:

• Quipu (red) – The largest filamentary structure ever detected.
• SERVENS-CORONA BOREALIS superstructure (green) – Another massive formation that extends through these constellations.
• Hercules Supercluster (Purple) – A dense galactic region with significant gravitational influence.
• Sculptor-pegasus superstructure (beige) -A massive structure that connects these two well -known constellations.
• Shaley Supercluster (blue) – Once the reigning cosmic giant, now eclipsed by Quipu and his counterparts.

Together, these formations contain 45% of all known galaxies groups, 30% of observable galaxiesand 25% of all things in the known universe. They explain 13% of the volume of the observable universemaking them some of the most influential structures in cosmic evolution.

How Quipu was discovered: Cosmic web mapping

Astronomers detected Quipu through an advanced Red displacement mapping surveyfocused on galaxies groups between Red displacements of 0.3 and 0.6. The higher the red displacement, further (and older) are the structures. Most large -scale previous surveys had only mapped objects Until the red displacement 0.3missing deeper and larger structures.

By extending the search range, scientists found Quipu and its counterparts“During that.” Even larger structures can exist more in the past of the universe.

The red displacement technique: a window to the deep universe

Red displacement occurs because the The expanding universe stretches the Light wavelengtht, moving it towards him Red spectrum end. By measuring these changes, astronomers can estimate the distance and speed of galaxies, helping them to build a 3D Map of the Universe.

A fleeting giant in the great timeline

Despite its immense size, Quipu is not eternal. The universe is constantly expanding, and more than billions of years, These vast filaments will disperse. Gravity keeps them tied for now, but As dark energy accelerates cosmic expansion, the filaments will slowly unravelseparating galaxies from each other.

Quipu’s destiny and the cosmic website

• During the next billion years, Quipu It will be divided into smaller groups As the cosmic expansion stretches the space itself.
• The galaxies within Quipu will separatefinally isolated island universes.
• Future astronomers (if they exist) can no longer detect these superstructures, as the cosmic website dissolves.

What follows? The search for even larger structures

While Quipu currently has the record as The largest known structureAstronomers believe Even bigger formations You can stalk more deeply in space. With the continuous advance of telescope technology (such as James Webb Space Telescope and next Euclid mission), future surveys could extend the red displacement mapping beyond 1.0potentially revealing structures hundreds of billions of light years wide.

This discovery, detailed in a recent study on Arxivchallenges our understanding of large -scale cosmic formations and Raises fundamental questions about the structure and evolution of the universe. For now, Quipu stands as an impressive reminder of The scale and complexity of the universe—A vast and interconnected web that extends through billions of light years, whispering secrets of the cosmic past.

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