15 Facts Proving Galaxies Are Bigger Than We Thought
Larger Than Previously Thought: Recent studies reveal that many galaxies are significantly larger than earlier estimates, with some exceeding 1 million light-years in diameter.
IC 1101: The supergiant elliptical galaxy IC 1101 is among the largest known, with a diameter of approximately 6 million light-years, dwarfing the Milky Way.
Diverse Sizes: Galaxies come in various sizes, from dwarf galaxies measuring just a few thousand light-years to massive giants like M87 and NGC 4889.
Massive Clusters: Some galaxy clusters contain hundreds of galaxies and span millions of light-years, showcasing the vastness of cosmic structures.
Dark Matter's Role: The presence of dark matter is often invoked to explain the gravitational binding of these massive galaxies, although its existence remains unproven.
Topological Defects Theory: New theories suggest that gravitational forces can exist without mass, potentially explaining galaxy formation without relying on dark matter.
Astronomical Surveys: Ongoing astronomical surveys continue to uncover larger galaxies, challenging previous notions and expanding our understanding of the universe's scale.