Sloan Great Wall

Definition

The Sloan Great Wall is a large-scale structure in the distribution of galaxies, spanning hundreds of millions of light-years across the universe. It is one of the largest known structures in the observable universe and provides insights into the large-scale organization and evolution of matter on cosmic scales.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Sloan Great Wall is one of the largest known structures in the observable universe, spanning over 1 billion light-years in length.
2. It was discovered in 2003 as part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which mapped the distribution of galaxies in a large volume of the universe.
3. The Sloan Great Wall is located in the constellation Boötes and is part of a larger network of galaxy filaments and superclusters that make up the cosmic web.
4. The existence of such large-scale structures challenges our understanding of the formation and evolution of the universe, as they are much larger than the expected scale of homogeneity predicted by the standard cosmological model.
5. Studying the Sloan Great Wall and other large-scale structures provides insights into the distribution of matter and the underlying forces that shape the universe on the largest scales.

Review Questions

• Describe the key features and significance of the Sloan Great Wall in the context of the distribution of galaxies in space.
  • The Sloan Great Wall is a massive, filamentary structure in the cosmic web that spans over 1 billion light-years, making it one of the largest known structures in the observable universe. Its discovery challenges our understanding of the large-scale distribution of matter, as structures of this size were not expected based on the standard cosmological model. Studying the Sloan Great Wall and other large-scale structures provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the universe, as well as the underlying forces that shape the distribution of galaxies on the largest scales.
• Explain how the Sloan Great Wall relates to the concept of the cosmic web and the role of galaxy filaments in the large-scale organization of matter.
  • The Sloan Great Wall is a key component of the cosmic web, the intricate network of galaxies, galaxy clusters, and voids that make up the large-scale structure of the universe. As part of this web-like pattern, the Sloan Great Wall is a dense, filamentary concentration of galaxies that connects larger structures, such as galaxy clusters and superclusters. These galaxy filaments are thought to be formed by the gravitational attraction of dark matter, which acts as a scaffold for the distribution of ordinary matter in the universe. Understanding the Sloan Great Wall and its place within the cosmic web provides insights into the hierarchical nature of structure formation and the underlying physical processes that shape the large-scale organization of matter in the universe.
• Analyze the implications of the Sloan Great Wall for our understanding of the early universe and the processes that led to the formation of such large-scale structures.
  • The existence of the Sloan Great Wall, a structure over 1 billion light-years in length, challenges our current understanding of the early universe and the processes that led to the formation of such large-scale structures. According to the standard cosmological model, the early universe should have been relatively homogeneous, with small fluctuations in the density of matter that would eventually grow into the structures we observe today. However, the Sloan Great Wall is much larger than the expected scale of homogeneity, suggesting that there may be additional physical mechanisms or modifications to the standard model that are needed to fully explain the formation and evolution of the largest structures in the universe. Analyzing the Sloan Great Wall and its relationship to the cosmic web can provide valuable insights into the nature of dark matter, the dynamics of structure formation, and the underlying physical laws that govern the large-scale organization of the universe.

Related terms

Cosmic Web:

The intricate network of galaxies, galaxy clusters, and voids that make up the large-scale structure of the universe, forming a web-like pattern.

Galaxy Filaments: Long, narrow, and dense concentrations of galaxies that are part of the cosmic web, connecting galaxy clusters and superclusters.

Baryon Acoustic Oscillations:

Fluctuations in the density of baryonic matter (ordinary matter) in the early universe, which leave imprints on the large-scale structure of the cosmos.