The universe is way too incomprehensible for anyone to even try to explain. From the classification of the huge elliptical galaxies which form one of the max structures in the universe, to the interconnecting structures called cosmic filaments which are the substructure of such large structures as the aforementioned quasi-cluster, these structures are beyond understanding for humankind. Now we will explore the largest structures in the universe.
Galaxies: The Building Blocks of the Universe
A galaxy is a large collection of stars, gases, dust, particles, and dark matter. There are different categories, however the most recognizable are the spiral, ellipse and irregular.
- Milky Way: The Milky Way also moves about 100000 light years very much like a barred spiral galaxy. It also contains millions and billions of stars The Sun is one of them.
- Andromeda Galaxy: Andromeda Galaxy is the largest galaxy in the Local Group which is a system of galaxies that contains the galaxy Milky Way. It is located about 2 spawns in line with the current trend of converging communication technologies. 5 million light years away coming towards and studying the Milky Way.
Galaxy Clusters and Superclusters
Some galaxies form clusters which means that many galaxies are grouped in clusters. It is also important to note that these clusters can merge to form even larger structures known as superclusters.
- Virgo Cluster: This type of galaxy is the Virgo Cluster and is the largest cluster of galaxies nearest to that of the Milky Way. It comprises thousands of galaxies for example elliptical galaxy M87.
- Laniakea Supercluster: Milky Way and Virgo cluster formations form part of a supercluster known as Laniakea Supercluster which is the largest known structure in the universe. It is estimated to have a diameter of at least 500 million light years.
The Cosmic Web
On the largest scale, one can observe the large-scale structure of the universe also known as the cosmic web which encompasses strings and voids. These structures are produced by the consequences of dark matter such as gravitation.
- Great Wall: In this case, it should be pointed out that the Great Wall is a superstring of galaxies that measure somewhere in the territory of billions of light-years. This is one of the largest constructional structures in the whole universe which according to astronomers have been identified.
Black Holes: The Cosmic Vacuum Cleaners
A black hole can be described as an area in space where the matter and energy density are extreme such that light can even be held back from that area. Broadly speaking, there are two types of black holes; to start with the stellar-mass black hole the second place is the supermassive black hole.
- Sagittarius A: This one is a supermassive black hole with a mass of approximately 4 million of the solar mass, which is situated in the center of the Milky Way galaxy and it is called Sagittarius A.
The Largest Known Structure: Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall
The Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall is the biggest known structure existing in the universe. They are cables of galaxies, astringent about 10 billion light-years wide. It is such a large structure that it threatens our perception of the whole universe.
Such objects and structures have entirely fantastic proportions and variety, and here are only a few examples. Not only may future generations find even more strange and stupendous galactic marvels, but humanity’s knowledge of the universe is still so limited.
Earth’s Largest Objects: A Terrestrial Tour
While the universe is filled with colossal cosmic structures, Earth also boasts impressive feats of scale.
Geographic Features
- Amazon Rainforest: The largest tropical rainforest on the planet, the Amazon spans approximately 5. 5 million square kilometers (2. 1 million square miles), and thus they have an important contribution to global ecosystems.
- Sahara Desert: The biggest tropical desert in the world, Sahara occupies an area of about 9. 2 million square kilometers, 3. 6 million square miles.
Living Organisms
- Blue Whale: Blue whales are recognized as the largest animal on earth. They can measure up to 33 meters (108 ft) in length and weigh 190 tons.
- Giant Sequoia: The largest tree in terms of volume is the giant sequoia, it can reach up to 85 meters (279 feet) tall and has a diameter of up to 1140 centimeters (11 meters or 36 feet).
- Honey Mushroom: Standing at over 2,400 years of age, the honey mushroom colony found in Oregon’s Blue Mountain is the largest single organism by area at 2.4 square miles.
Human-Made Structures
- Burj Khalifa: Rising high above all is Dubai’s Burj Khalifa building; currently the tallest manmade structure measuring 828 meters / 2717 feet above ground level.
- Three Gorges Dam: Located on the Yellow River in China, the Three Gorges Dam is by far the world’s biggest power generation house owing to its low lodgment of 185 m and longitudinal spread of 2309 m.
- Great Wall of China: The Great Wall of China is considered the longest wall and fortification in the world as it is several thousand kilometers long and is situated in the country of China.
Conclusion
As we come to the end of the exploration of the universe, we witness some of the largest objects and structures in the universe. It ranges from the cosmos giants the gargantuan galaxies that take up space at the Large-Scale Structure to the cosmic filaments of the cosmic web that it is difficult for human beings to imagine.
There seems to be a great concept of scale that forms the cosmos, a work of art where strings of stars, gases, dust and dark matter co-exist. While keep on exploring and searching for new mysteries we came back to the understanding that we are a small but significant part of the big universe power.
Keep an eye for more news & updates on Forbes Zine!