An international team of astronomers, spearheaded by researchers from Tartu Observatory at the University of Tartu, unveils numerous superclusters in the cosmos, with one standout dubbed the ‘Einasto Supercluster’ in tribute to Prof. Jaan Einasto, a luminary in the field who recently celebrated his 95th birthday. Superclusters, akin to colossal urban centers in space, represent the most expansive and massive conglomerations of galaxies known to science, offering insights into the universe’s grand architecture and the enigma of their genesis.
In their investigation, the scientists determined that the typical supercluster boasts a staggering mass equivalent to 6 million times billion solar masses and spans an average distance of 200 million light-years. To grasp their magnitude, envision a 2 euro coin on a football field representing the Milky Way, while the field’s length signifies the vast expanse of a supercluster. In terms of mass, a golf ball representing the sun juxtaposed with Mount Everest would echo the scale of a supercluster—a testament to their monumental proportions.
The Einasto Supercluster, the most prodigious of the batch, resides approximately 3 billion light-years distant from Earth, harboring a mass akin to 26 million times billion suns. Its immense scale becomes apparent when considering that a light beam traveling from one end of the supercluster would require 360 million years to traverse to the other end. Given Prof. Jaan Einasto’s profound contributions to supercluster research, it’s apt to christen this discovery in his honor.
Building upon Estonia’s esteemed astronomical legacy, characterized by expertise in supercluster studies, the team cataloged a total of 662 superclusters and delved into their characteristics. Notably, galaxy clusters within superclusters exhibit greater mass compared to those outside, underscoring distinct evolutionary pathways within these cosmic megastructures.
While superclusters boast substantial mass, it’s distributed over vast volumes, rendering them less dense than galaxies. Nevertheless, their gravitational influence shapes the motions of matter within, including dark matter. Despite their gravitational pull mitigating the universal expansion, superclusters aren’t gravitationally bound entities. Eventually, the expansion driven by dark energy will prevail.
Additionally, the researchers discerned an inverse relationship between supercluster density and size, highlighting the intricate dynamics shaping these cosmic behemoths. This study underscores the imperative of international collaboration in advancing our understanding of the universe, with contributions from astronomers hailing from Estonia, India, Japan, Spain, and Finland.
