Chapter 1
When looking at the stars was a crime
Chapter 2
The invisible forces shaping everything
Chapter 3
Mysterious structures in the deep dark
Chapter 4
Where the laws of physics break down
Ch 3 · Mysterious structures in the deep dark
007skaty Laniakea Supercluster
One hundred thousand galaxies in a cosmic flow— (watch us go!) / Toward the Great Attractor in the valley below! (oh-oh-oh!)
007skaty Our galaxy's thick dust in the Zone of Avoidance hides this massive, mostly invisible supercluster of galaxies from our view.
007skaty This eerie cosmic silence discovered in 1981 challenges standard universe formation models.
BETA
007skaty Decode the cosmic microwave background to figure out what caused this massive cold spot.
Fun Fact
Fast traveler: Our Milky Way galaxy, along with our entire local cosmic neighborhood, is currently hurtling toward the Great Attractor at a speed of 1.4 million miles per hour.
Glossary
cosmic web (noun)
The large-scale network of interconnected galaxy filaments and dark matter that spans the universe. In 1989, Margaret Geller and John Huchra mapped the Great Wall, a colossal filament within this network.
The large-scale network of interconnected galaxy filaments and dark matter that spans the universe. In 1989, Margaret Geller and John Huchra mapped the Great Wall, a colossal filament within this network.
Quiz
Why is the Great Attractor so difficult for astronomers to observe directly from Earth?
Quiz
What name do astronomers give to the mysterious gravitational anomaly pulling our Milky Way and other galaxies toward it?
Quiz
Which astronomer discovered the gargantuan, nearly empty region of space known as the Boötes Void in 1981?
Quiz
Approximately how many galaxies would normally be expected in a region of space the size of the Boötes Void, compared to the roughly 60 actually found?
Quiz
What radical, mind-bending theory has been proposed to explain the Cold Spot besides a massive cosmic void?
Quiz
Which NASA satellite first detected the mysterious CMB Cold Spot in the ancient radiation of the universe in 2004?
Quiz
Which researcher led the team at the University of Hawaii that mapped the boundaries of the Laniakea Supercluster in 2014?