There is a structure in space that could challenge our current theories about the universe. This enormous formation is called the Great Ring and has a diameter of 1.3 billion light-years. It is one of the largest structures ever discovered in space. Despite its size, it is so far away from our planet that it is not visible to the naked eye.
The Great Ring is located over 9 billion light-years away and is faintly visible, appearing as a ring equivalent to 15 full Moons in the night sky. This discovery seems to contradict the cosmological principle, which tells us that the universe is homogeneous and looks the same in all directions above a certain spatial scale.
This discovery was made through the analysis of data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) – a catalog of distant quasars. Quasars are objects that can be seen from billions of light-years away and allow us to observe galaxies that lie between them. Without their light, these galaxies would be invisible.
Cosmologists are still uncertain about how this great structure formed. One possible explanation is the existence of baryonic acoustic oscillations – a type of acoustic wave in the early universe that could have given rise to spherical shells of galaxies. Another theory is the existence of cosmic strings, hypothetical defects in the structure of the universe that can cause matter to clump along them.
The Great Ring joins the list of incredibly large cosmic objects, such as the Great Arc, which was also discovered by Alexia Lopez in 2021. These discoveries may require rethinking our current cosmological theories and principles. The question of whether we need new cosmological models becomes increasingly relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How large is the Great Ring?
The Great Ring has a diameter of 1.3 billion light-years, making it one of the largest structures in the cosmos.
2. Why is this discovery important?
The discovery of the Great Ring could challenge our current theories about the universe as it seems to contradict the cosmological principle.
3. How was the Great Ring discovered?
The Great Ring was discovered through the analysis of data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) – a catalog of distant quasars.
Source
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Definitions
Great Ring – a cluster of galaxies with a diameter of approximately 1.3 billion light-years, one of the largest structures in space.
Cosmological principle – the principle stating that above a certain spatial scale, the universe is homogeneous and looks the same in all directions.
Quasars – cosmic objects that are so bright they can be seen from billions of light-years away. They act like giant, distant lamps, illuminating galaxies that lie between them.
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