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Shapley Supercluster core: size, dimension and comparison

The adopted reference is about 26.093 million light-years.

Extent of the filamentary core · about 8 Mpc

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

The dense core of a much larger collection of groups and clusters.

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Shapley Supercluster core, interpreted illustration
Interpreted illustration · dimension stated in the fact sheet.

What does this number measure?

The dense core of a much larger collection of groups and clusters. Approximate length of the central filament linking A3558, A3562, A3556 and two groups; not the diameter of the entire supercluster. The study describes the core as a continuous structure spanning two degrees, or about 8 Mpc at the adopted distance. Shapley as a whole is much larger; this entry measures only its core.

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 Coma Cluster in the explorer →

Source and limitations

The study describes the core as a continuous structure spanning two degrees, or about 8 Mpc at the adopted distance. Shapley as a whole is much larger; this entry measures only its core.

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.