Void (astronomy)

vast empty spaces between filaments which contain very few or no galaxies

In astronomy, voids are the empty spaces between filaments. Filaments and voids are the largest-scale structures in the Universe. There are no or few galaxies in voids. Most voids have a diameter of 11 to 150 Mpc. Especially large voids are the empty spaces without many superclusters. These voids are sometimes called supervoids.

Nearby superclusters and voids

A 1994 official counting lists a total of 27 supervoids with a distance of up to 740 Mpc.[1]

# Name Distance (Mpc) Diameter (Mpc)
1   188 124
5   182 130
9 Southern Local Supervoid 135 158
18   168 144
19   168 152
20 Bootes Void 304 110
21   201 163
24 Northern Local Supervoid 86 146

References change

  1. Lindner U, J. Einasto, M. Einasto, W. Freudling, K. Fricke, E. Tago. 1995. The structure of supervoids. I. Void hierarchy in the Northern Local Supervoid., Astron. Astrophys., v.301, p.329