This is a map of all the major known superclusters within two billion light years plotted onto the supergalactic plane. Each point on this map is a rich cluster of galaxies containing hundreds of galaxies as listed in Abell's catalog of rich clusters of galaxies. This map does not show every rich cluster but only those which are grouped together into large supercluster formations. Each of these superclusters must also contain hundreds or maybe thousands of smaller groups of galaxies. This map is clearly not complete, the plane of our galaxy runs approximately down the centre of the map and most astronomers prefer to study galaxies that are far away from this plane where there is a lot less gas and dust obscuring our view of the universe. This explains why most of the known superclusters are on the left and right sides of the map.
The labels on this map refer to the constellations in which the majority of the supercluster is found, this may be different from the supercluster's usual name, thus the Perseus-Pisces supercluster is labeled as 'Per-And'. The largest supercluster on this map is the very large Horologium supercluster (labeled Hor-Eri), although it must be stressed that there are large numbers of rich clusters which do not yet have a published redshift. For example, there is probably a large supercluster in the constellation of Caelum at a distance of 1.4 billion light years associated with the Abell clusters 3256, 3265, 3268, 3273, 3275, 3285, 3289, 3295 and 3307 but only one of these clusters has a redshift listed in Struble and Rood's compilation of cluster redshifts (A3295, z=0.1062) and hence this supercluster is not plotted on the map.
Here is the list of the known superclusters in the universe that contain at least three Abell galaxy clusters. (It is also possible to produce a much longer list than this one that contains superclusters of only two Abell clusters such as the Coma supercluster.) The available data becomes very sparse beyond 2 billion light years which is why there are only seven superclusters listed beyond that distance. The total number of superclusters within 2 billion light years must be at least six hundred and maybe as high as one thousand, depending on how you exactly define a supercluster. The total number of large galaxies within 2 billion light years is roughly 25 million with at least ten times as many dwarf galaxies.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Common Name Equatorial Supergal Redshift Dis Size Con Abell clusters in the supercluster
Coordinates Coords z Mly Mly
RA Dec L° B°
Centaurus 13 00 -32.0 148 -7 0.014 194 150 Cen-Hya 1060, 3526, 3565, 3574, 3581.
Perseus-Pisces 02 32 +39.8 341 -8 0.016 222 100 Per-And 262, 347, 426.
Pavo-Indus 20 34 -37.0 230 +32 0.017 235 100 Ind-Mic 3656, 3698, 3742.
00 53 -48.4 249 -11 0.027 372 150 Phe-Scl 2731, 2806, 2836, 2870, 2877, 2896.
Hercules (a) 16 23 +36.7 77 +50 0.030 413 100 Her-CBo 2162, 2197, 2199.
Leo 11 03 +22.7 85 -18 0.032 440 150 Leo-Uma 999, 1016, 1142, 1177, 1185, 1228, 1257, 1267.
Shapley (a) 13 51 -32.1 151 +3 0.037 507 100 Cen-Hya 3570, 3571, 3575, 3578.
Hercules (b) 15 48 +16.1 109 +45 0.037 507 150 Her-Ser 2052, 2063, 2107, 2147, 2148, 2151, 2152.
05 57 -26.6 255 -73 0.038 521 200 Col-Lep 548, 3341, 3374, 3381, 3390.
23 28 +14.8 306 +24 0.040 548 100 Peg 2572, 2589, 2593, 2657.
01 07 +0.4 298 -3 0.043 588 100 Cet 119, 147, 168.
01 22 +14.5 312 -2 0.044 601 150 Psc 160, 193, 195.
Shapley (b) 13 21 -29.7 147 -2 0.048 654 200 Cen-Hya 1631, 1644, 1709, 1736, 3528, 3530, 3532, 3542, 3553,
3554, 3555, 3556, 3558, 3559, 3560, 3562, 3564, 3566,
3572, 3577.
23 43 -35.8 257 +5 0.049 668 100 Scl 2717, 4008, 4012, 4013, 4059.
Sextans 10 15 -5.2 110 -40 0.050 681 200 Sex 912, 930, 957, 970, 978, 979, 993.
06 20 -52.5 215 -53 0.051 694 100 Pup-Car 3380, 3391, 3395.
11 30 -4.3 115 -22 0.052 708 100 Leo-Vir 1216, 1308, 1334.
15 10 +6.1 120 +34 0.052 708 150 Vir-Ser 2020, 2023, 2040, 2055.
21 55 -6.8 273 +40 0.055 747 100 Aqr 2366, 2399, 2415.
02 17 -7.9 294 -22 0.057 774 150 Cet 303, 326, 358.
Ursa Major 11 48 +55.6 59 +4 0.058 787 200 UMa 1270, 1291, 1318, 1324, 1377, 1383, 1436, 1452, 1507.
17 35 +77.8 31 +27 0.058 787 150 Dra-UMi 2248, 2256, 2271, 2296, 2309.
20 12 -56.1 218 +16 0.058 787 100 Tel 3651, 3667, 3685.
21 48 -17.6 260 +36 0.058 787 100 Cap 2361, 2362, 2372, 2382, 2383, 2401.
Pisces-Cetus (a) 00 34 -20.7 275 -1 0.060 813 350 Scl-Cet 14, 27, 74, 85, 86, 87, 114, 117, 121, 126, 133, 151,
2683, 2716, 2734, 2794, 2800, 2824, 4049, 4053.
16 12 +51.8 59 +42 0.060 813 150 Dra-Her 2149, 2168, 2169, 2184.
Bootes 13 55 +24.2 96 +20 0.061 826 150 Boo 1781, 1795, 1825, 1827, 1828, 1831.
01 04 -49.3 248 -13 0.063 852 100 Phe 2841, 2854, 2889.
Pisces-Cetus (b) 01 30 +16.9 315 -4 0.063 852 200 Psc-Ari 150, 152, 154, 158, 171, 179, 225, 257, 292, 311.
03 12 -24.2 278 -37 0.065 879 150 Eri-For 419, 428, 3094, 3095.
00 56 -0.2 296 0 0.066 892 100 Cet 102, 116, 134.
Horologium 03 29 -48.3 247 -37 0.067 905 550 Hor-Eri 3074, 3078, 3089, 3093, 3098, 3100, 3104, 3106, 3107,
3108, 3109, 3110, 3111, 3112, 3116, 3120, 3122, 3123,
3125, 3128, 3135, 3140, 3145, 3158, 3164, 3225, 3266,
3312.
04 44 -20.8 282 -59 0.067 905 200 Eri-Lep 500, 514, 524, 3260.
23 37 +20.2 312 +23 0.068 918 100 Peg 2618, 2630, 2637.
00 58 -66.0 231 -15 0.069 931 150 Tuc 2819, 2859, 2864.
11 12 +3.6 105 -24 0.072 970 150 Leo 1149, 1171, 1205, 1238.
Corona Borealis 15 25 +30.3 90 +40 0.072 970 250 CBo 2005, 2019, 2056, 2061, 2065, 2067, 2079, 2089, 2092,
2122, 2124.
22 42 -17.0 269 +25 0.072 970 100 Aqr 2456, 2459, 2462, 2480, 2492.
10 33 +4.3 101 -32 0.073 983 100 Sex 1024, 1032, 1066.
11 12 +40.6 70 -8 0.074 996 50 UMa 1173, 1187, 1190, 1203.
11 58 +31.8 82 -3 0.074 996 100 UMa-Com 1365, 1423, 1480.
14 01 +26.9 93 +21 0.074 996 150 Boo 1775, 1800, 1873, 1898.
21 52 -55.3 230 +10 0.075 1008 200 Ind 3771, 3785, 3796, 3806, 3822, 3825, 3826, 3886.
13 47 +3.4 117 +13 0.077 1034 100 Vir 1773, 1780, 1809.
01 54 +4.3 305 -13 0.078 1047 100 Psc-Cet 245, 279, 294.
05 26 -39.9 241 -59 0.078 1047 200 Col 3332, 3336, 3351, 3356.
15 11 +6.5 119 +34 0.078 1047 150 Vir-Ser 2028, 2029, 2033.
21 56 -20.2 259 +33 0.080 1073 100 Cap-Aqr 2378, 2394, 2412.
22 56 +17.8 308 +33 0.080 1073 100 Peg 2479, 2516, 2524.
23 17 -11.4 278 +20 0.080 1073 200 Aqr 2511, 2525, 2559, 2569, 2597, 2638.
03 09 -11.9 293 -35 0.081 1086 100 Eri 415, 420, 423.
11 43 +11.3 100 -14 0.081 1086 150 Leo-Vir 1307, 1337, 1358, 1385, 1390.
08 42 +27.8 57 -39 0.083 1111 150 Cnc 690, 692, 699.
12 22 +12.3 102 -5 0.083 1111 150 Com-Vir 1474, 1526, 1541, 1552.
12 58 -2.5 119 0 0.083 1111 100 Vir 1620, 1650, 1651, 1663.
22 04 -10.1 271 +37 0.083 1111 250 Cap-Aqr 2376, 2377, 2400, 2402, 2410, 2420, 2428, 2448.
23 18 -21.7 268 +16 0.084 1124 150 Aqr 2538, 2556, 2566, 2599, 4003.
01 31 -27.7 271 -15 0.086 1150 100 Scl 2915, 2919, 2924.
18 33 +69.7 29 +36 0.086 1150 150 Dra 2295, 2301, 2304, 2308, 2311, 2312, 2315.
Grus 22 59 -44.7 245 +8 0.087 1163 150 Gru 3908, 3910, 3925, 3963, 3972, 3998.
01 53 -5.3 295 -15 0.088 1175 100 Cet 256, 266, 277. 281.
Microscopium 20 34 -35.4 231 +34 0.089 1188 150 Mic-Sgr 3677, 3682, 3691, 3693, 3694, 3695, 3696, 3705.
10 09 -0.1 103 -40 0.094 1252 150 Sex 919, 933, 954.
00 05 +4.8 298 +13 0.096 1277 150 Psc 3, 2694, 2698, 2700.
05 49 -23.0 269 -73 0.096 1277 100 Lep 3365, 3367, 3368.
12 47 +63.1 54 +13 0.102 1352 100 Uma-Dra 1566, 1621, 1646.
14 45 +55.2 62 +28 0.102 1352 100 Dra-Boo 1925, 1962, 1999, 2000.
00 42 -27.8 269 -4 0.106 1403 250 Cet-Scl 42, 80, 88, 118, 122, 2778, 2780, 2784, 2798, 2801,
2804, 2811, 2814, 2829, 2850.
23 08 -14.5 274 +21 0.108 1428 100 Aqr 2529, 2533, 2543.
11 42 +10.6 101 -14 0.109 1440 200 Leo-Vir 1341, 1342, 1345, 1354, 1372.
03 42 -33.1 266 -43 0.110 1452 100 For 3146, 3150, 3166.
11 54 +62.9 53 +7 0.110 1452 200 UMa-Dra 1289, 1322, 1477, 1518.
23 13 -21.6 268 +17 0.111 1465 100 Aqr 2541, 2546, 2548, 2554, 2579, 2583.
01 39 -7.1 293 -12 0.112 1477 150 Cet 216, 217, 229, 243.
02 53 -25.0 277 -33 0.112 1477 100 For 389, 3062, 3070.
12 13 +68.2 48 +11 0.112 1477 250 Dra 1302, 1366, 1406, 1421, 1432, 1559, 1561, 1597, 1674.
15 20 +31.6 88 +39 0.113 1490 150 CBo-Boo 2034, 2049, 2062, 2069, 2083.
00 10 -35.8 259 0 0.116 1527 150 Scl 2715, 2721, 2730, 2767.
14 56 +21.4 101 +34 0.116 1527 200 Boo 1972, 1976, 1980, 1986, 1988, 2006, 2017, 2036.
21 35 0.0 279 +47 0.119 1564 100 Aqr 2353, 2355, 2356.
10 44 +75.3 39 +8 0.122 1601 300 Dra 786, 809, 818, 848, 948, 1029, 1123, 1150, 1297,
1301, 1381, 1536.
01 16 +4.0 302 -4 0.124 1625 150 Psc 153, 162, 172, 192.
01 43 -10.8 289 -14 0.127 1662 100 Cet 226, 228, 259.
23 11 -22.4 267 +17 0.132 1723 200 Aqr 2518, 2521, 2540, 2555, 2565, 2568, 2577.
09 24 +73.7 36 +3 0.133 1735 100 Cam-Dra 762, 765, 787, 788.
11 50 -1.6 114 -16 0.134 1747 150 Vir 1373, 1392, 1407.
16 21 +42.2 70 +48 0.135 1759 200 Her 2158, 2172, 2179, 2183, 2196, 2211.
10 22 +50.6 57 -10 0.136 1772 200 UMa 950, 985, 990, 1002, 1004.
11 36 +71.8 44 +9 0.148 1916 150 Dra-UMa 1254, 1329, 1315, 1339.
15 35 +37.3 80 +41 0.152 1963 50 CBo 2093, 2096, 2100.
10 22 +50.1 57 -10 0.155 1999 50 UMa 965, 980, 1000.
11 18 +17.4 92 -17 0.169 2164 100 Leo 1204, 1219, 1232.
10 00 +71.2 40 +2 0.187 2371 150 UMa 864, 873, 914, 922.
23 44 -10.4 281 +14 0.191 2417 100 Aqr 2646, 2652, 2661.
13 16 +58.3 60 +16 0.194 2451 100 UMa 1687, 1707, 1731.
10 25 +67.7 44 +2 0.200 2519 200 UMa 945, 968, 981, 998, 1005, 1006, 1017.
01 36 -13.1 286 -13 0.207 2597 100 Cet 209, 222, 223.
14 44 +31.2 89 +31 0.225 2797 150 Boo 1958, 1961, 1963.
Column 1: Usual name for the supercluster if it has one.
Column 2: Right Ascension of the supercluster for epoch 2000.
Column 3: Declination of the supercluster for epoch 2000.
Column 4: Supergalactic longitude.
Column 5: Supergalactic latitude.
Column 6: The supercluster's redshift.
Column 7: Distance to the supercluster in millions of light years, assuming that
the Hubble constant is 70 km/s/Mpc.
Column 8: Size of the supercluster in millions of light years. This is a rough
figure based on the distribution of the Abell clusters in the supercluster.
Column 9: Constellation(s) in which the majority of the supercluster lies.
Column 10: All known Abell clusters that make up the supercluster.
References:
Struble M, Rood H, (1999), A compilation of redshifts and velocity
dispersions for ACO clusters, Astrophys J, 125, 35.
Abell G, Corwin H, Olowin R, (1989), A catalogue of Rich Clusters of
Galaxies, Astrophys J Supp, 70, 1.
The above table was produced by searching for all Abell clusters (with a published redshift) that lie within 2200 km/s of each other in redshift space. (2200 km/s is roughly equal to 100 million light years.) I am not the first person to ever do this, there have been many catalogues of clusters of Abell clusters published. A recent example is this paper (see also this link) by Einasto, Einasto, Tago, Muller and Andernach. Note that although these tight concentrations of Abell clusters usually correspond to actual superclusters, this technique does not show the many walls and sheets of galaxies that link the superclusters.
