Pisces–Cetus Supercluster Complex Explained

The Pisces–Cetus Supercluster Complex is a galaxy filament. It includes the Laniakea Supercluster which contains the Virgo Supercluster lobe which in turn contains the Local Group, the galaxy cluster that includes the Milky Way.^[1] This filament is adjacent to the Perseus–Pegasus Filament.^[2]

Discovery

Astronomer R. Brent Tully of the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Astronomy identified the Complex in 1987.^[3]

Extent

The Pisces–Cetus Supercluster Complex is estimated to be about 1.0 billion light-years (Gly) long and 150 million light years (Mly) wide. It is one of the largest structures known in the observable universe, but is exceeded by the Sloan Great Wall (1.3 Gly), Clowes–Campusano LQG (2.0 Gly), U1.11 LQG (2.5 Gly), Huge-LQG (4.0 Gly), and Hercules–Corona Borealis Great Wall (10 Gly), respectively.

Sixty clusters comprise the complex, which is estimated to have a total mass of 10 .^[4] According to the discoverer, the complex is composed of 5 parts:

1. The Pisces–Cetus Supercluster
2. The Perseus–Pegasus chain, including the Perseus–Pisces Supercluster
3. The Pegasus–Pisces chain
4. The Sculptor region, including the Sculptor Supercluster and Hercules Supercluster
5. The Laniakea Supercluster, which contains our Virgo Supercluster (Local Supercluster) as well as the Hydra–Centaurus Supercluster.^[4]

With its mass of 10, our Virgo Supercluster accounts only for 0.1 percent of the total mass of the complex.

The complex was named after the Pisces–Cetus Superclusters, which are its richest superclusters.

See also

• Entropy
• Fossil galaxy group
• Galaxy group
• Galaxy cluster
• Galactic orientation
• Intracluster medium
• Large-scale structure of the universe
• List of galaxy groups and clusters
• Supercluster
• Timeline of galaxies and large scale structures

Notes and References

1. 10.1086/164049. 303. 25–38. Tully. R. B.. Alignment of clusters and galaxies on scales up to 0.1 C. The Astrophysical Journal. 1986-04-01. 1986ApJ...303...25T.
2. Tully, R. B., Courtois, H., Hoffman, Y & Pomarède, D. Nature 513, 71–73 (2014).
3. News: Massive Clusters of Galaxies Defy Concepts of the Universe . November 10, 1987 . . John Noble Wilford .
4. 10.1086/165803. 323. 1–18. Tully. R. Brent. More about clustering on a scale of 0.1 C. The Astrophysical Journal. 1987-12-01. 1987ApJ...323....1T. free.