Superclusters: The Universe’s Giant Cosmic Webs

  1. Superclusters are enormous structures made of many galaxy clusters bound together.
  2. They stretch hundreds of millions of light-years across, forming the largest known cosmic systems.
  3. The Milky Way is part of the Laniakea Supercluster, our home in the cosmic web.
  4. Superclusters are linked by filaments of galaxies and dark matter, creating a vast cosmic network.
  5. Between filaments lie giant cosmic voids—regions nearly empty of galaxies.
  6. The Sloan Great Wall, one of the largest known structures, spans over a billion light-years.
  7. Gravity binds superclusters loosely; some parts may eventually drift apart as the universe expands.
  8. Studying their shape and distribution reveals clues about dark energy and cosmic evolution.
  9. They are rare—only a few thousand have been mapped across the observable universe.
  10. Superclusters remind us that galaxies are not scattered randomly but woven into a grand cosmic tapestry.