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Coma Cluster: size, dimension and comparison

The adopted reference is about 20 million light-years.

Approximate diameter of the galaxy distribution · 20 million ly

A light-year is a distance: how far light travels in one year. Here, those distances are counted in millions.

Thousands of galaxies gathered in a nearby cluster.

Explore at this scale
Coma Cluster, interpreted illustration
Interpreted illustration · dimension stated in the fact sheet.

What does this number measure?

Thousands of galaxies gathered in a nearby cluster. Approximate extent of the volume containing the cluster's galaxies, not its distance from Earth. NASA describes a distribution spanning approximately 20 million light-years. A cluster's boundary depends on the tracer and convention; this number does not define a sharp wall.

Compare the stated dimensions

The comparison uses the number in each fact sheet: altitude, height, diameter, length or distance, depending on the reference. Two values in metres do not necessarily describe the same property.

Compare with PLCK G287.0+32.9 radio halo in the explorer →

Source and limitations

NASA describes a distribution spanning approximately 20 million light-years. A cluster's boundary depends on the tracer and convention; this number does not define a sharp wall.

A generic artistic pattern shared with another entry in the same family; it represents neither a photograph nor an observed map of this structure. The galaxies and filaments are symbolic; only the stated extent follows the length scale factor.