Discovery History

Around fifty years ago, astronomers made a startling observation: our Milky Way galaxy appears to be traveling through the cosmos at a significantly higher velocity than previously estimated, clocking in at about 2.2 million kilometers per hour.

This rapid motion is attributed to the gravitational influence of massive clusters of matter, such as colossal galaxy groups. These massive bodies can inhibit the expansion of the universe in their vicinity through gravitational forces. However, in those early investigations, astronomers did not identify any such substantial objects in close proximity to our galaxy.

In the late 1990s, the advent of advanced radio telescopes allowed scientists to peer through the thick dust that obscures our galaxy's disk. Despite uncovering new, distant galaxies, nothing extraordinary emerged from these observations.

Later analyses revealed a significant redshift in numerous galaxies concentrated in a small region of the sky. Upon measuring the distance to the center of this area, researchers inferred the potential location of the Great Attractor, yet they could not pinpoint the object itself. It's possible that the Attractor is obscured by dense clusters of stars, gas, and dust, complicating our ability to observe it, even with sophisticated radio telescopes.

Does this mean the movement of the Milky Way isn't influenced by the Great Attractor?

Section 1.1: The Norma Cluster

Recently, astronomers identified a massive supercluster of galaxies in the vicinity of the Great Attractor, known as the Norma Cluster, boasting an estimated mass equivalent to 1000 trillion solar masses.

While the Norma Cluster is indeed substantial and local galaxies appear to be gravitating towards it, this observation does not fully account for the motion of neighboring galaxies, including our own. The mass of the Great Attractor alone cannot sufficiently explain the gravitational dynamics we observe.

Subsection 1.1.1: The Shapley Supercluster

To grasp the full picture, we must examine an even larger galaxy distribution. Here, we discover that both local galaxies and the Great Attractor are being drawn toward an even larger and more massive entity—the Shapley Supercluster.

This supercluster encompasses over 8000 galaxies and has a mass exceeding ten million billion solar masses, making it the most colossal cluster within a billion light-years of our position. Our Milky Way and all neighboring galaxies are gravitationally moving towards it. Thus, while the Great Attractor is a notable galaxy cluster, it is merely a stepping stone; the Shapley Supercluster is the true gravitational titan drawing us all in.

The first video, "The Largest Objects in the Universe," explores various colossal entities throughout the cosmos and their implications for our understanding of the universe.

The second video, "What is the Largest Thing in the Universe?" delves into the scientific inquiries surrounding the most massive structures known to humanity.

In conclusion, the Great Attractor is an intriguing galaxy cluster obscured from our view, while an even greater force, the Shapley Supercluster, exerts its influence over our local cosmic environment.

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