The Hyperion Proto-Supercluster is the largest and most massive structure discovered in the early universe. This colossal cosmic web of nascent galaxies and dark matter offers an unparalleled glimpse into the very first stages of large-scale structure formation, just a few billion years after the Big Bang.
What is the Hyperion Proto-Supercluster?[]
- Ancient and Massive: Discovered in 2018, Hyperion is an immense structure with a mass estimated to be over a quadrillion times that of our Sun. It spans approximately 300 million light-years and is seen at a redshift of around z=2.45, meaning we observe it as it existed only about 2.3 billion years after the Big Bang.
- A "Baby" Supercluster: At this early cosmic epoch, the universe was still relatively young. Hyperion is a "proto-supercluster" because its constituent galaxy clusters were still in the process of assembling. It represents the gravitational collapse of a massive overdensity of matter that would eventually evolve into a fully formed supercluster like our own Laniakea.
- Filamentary Structure: Observations reveal that Hyperion is not a single blob but a complex, filamentary network of at least seven dense knots of galaxies, interconnected by vast cosmic tendrils. This structure is consistent with predictions of the Lambda-CDM model, which describes the formation of the cosmic web.
- Significance: Studying Hyperion provides crucial insights into:
- Large-Scale Structure Formation: How the universe's largest structures (superclusters) began to form and evolve from the primordial density fluctuations after the Big Bang.
- Galaxy Evolution: How galaxies within dense environments like proto-superclusters formed and interacted in the early universe.
- Cosmic Web Development: It helps confirm the theoretical models of the cosmic web, where galaxies are distributed along vast filaments surrounding enormous cosmic voids.
How Celestia Represents the Hyperion Proto-Supercluster[]
Due to its immense distance and the scale of such a vast cosmic structure, representing the Hyperion Proto-Supercluster in Celestia presents unique challenges:
- Faint and Distant: In Celestia, Hyperion will appear as an extremely distant and faint concentration of galaxies, even when zoomed in. Its sheer distance means the individual galaxies within it will be tiny points of light.
- Requires Add-ons: The default Celestia program may not contain a detailed 3D model of such a newly discovered and complex large-scale structure. To accurately visualize its filamentary nature and the distribution of its galaxies, you would almost certainly need to download and install community-created add-ons that specifically model the Hyperion Proto-Supercluster. These add-ons would likely use data from galaxy surveys to map out its structure.
- Perspective: Celestia will allow you to see Hyperion in the context of the larger observable universe, emphasizing its position as one of the furthest known massive structures.
Locating the Hyperion Proto-Supercluster in Celestia[]
To find and explore the Hyperion Proto-Supercluster in Celestia:
- Open Celestia.
- Go to the "Navigation" menu (or press F3).
- In the search box, type "Hyperion Proto-Supercluster" or "Hyperion".
- Press Enter.
- Celestia will take you to this distant and ancient structure. You will need to zoom in considerably to discern its components.
What to Observe[]
When visiting the Hyperion Proto-Supercluster in Celestia (especially with relevant add-ons):
- Clumped Galaxies: Observe the faint concentrations of galaxies that make up the knots and filaments of the proto-supercluster.
- Cosmic Web: Try to visualize how this structure fits into the larger cosmic web, even if only hints of its vastness are apparent.
- Time Travel: Reflect on the extraordinary fact that you are witnessing a structure as it was over 11 billion years ago, providing direct evidence of the universe's early evolution.
- Scale of the Universe: Appreciate the immense scale of Hyperion, spanning hundreds of millions of light-years, and how it represents the beginnings of the universe's largest gravitationally bound structures.
The Hyperion Proto-Supercluster is a testament to the ongoing assembly of cosmic structures and offers invaluable clues about the early universe's composition and evolution.