Cosmic Scale
Virgo Supercluster
Supercluster of galaxy groups · Contains the Local Group
How big is Virgo Supercluster?
Virgo Supercluster is about 110 million light-years across.
See Virgo Supercluster in 3D, at true scale
The Virgo Supercluster is the collection of galaxy groups around the Virgo Cluster, with our Local Group sitting out near its edge. We now know it is not a standalone structure but one lobe of the far larger Laniakea.
At a glance
| Diameter | 110 million light-years |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.99 × 10⁴⁵ kg |
| Diameter compared with Earth | 8.2 × 10¹⁶ × Earth |
| Groups | At least 100 |
| Core | The Virgo Cluster, 1,300+ galaxies |
| Our position | Near the outskirts |
Good to know
- The Virgo Cluster's gravity slows our local expansion, pulling the Local Group toward it at about 300 km/s.
- M87 and its famous black hole live at the cluster's heart.
- Superclusters like this are the largest structures that are not simply part of the cosmic web.
- Next smaller: Porphyrion · 23 million light-years
- Next larger: Shapley Supercluster · 160 million light-years