The recent discovery of "Quipu" has generated significant excitement in the astronomical community. Here's a breakdown of the key information:
- What is Quipu?
- Quipu is a massive cosmic superstructure, the largest known structure in the observable universe.
- It spans approximately 1.3 billion light-years.
- It has a mass equivalent to roughly 200 quadrillion solar masses.
- Significance:
- This discovery challenges existing cosmological models and our understanding of the universe's large-scale structure.
- It provides new insights into the formation and evolution of the universe.
- It also has potential to affect measurements related to the Hubble constant, and the Cosmic Microwave Background.
- Naming:
- The structure is named "Quipu" after the ancient Incan system of knotted cords used for record-keeping. This name was chosen because the structure's shape resembles knotted threads.
- Discovery Method:
- Astronomers used X-ray emissions from hot gas within galaxy clusters to identify and map the structure. This was done as a part of the Cosmic Large-Scale Structure in X-rays (CLASSIX) Cluster Survey.
- Impact:
- The existance of structures like Quipu, impact the current understanding of the cosmological principal.
- Studying these superstructures aids in understanding the distribution of dark matter, and the role of gravitational interactions.
In essence, the discovery of Quipu is a monumental achievement that will likely lead to further research and a deeper understanding of the cosmos.