Big Ring

This article is about the configuration of galaxy clusters in the distant universe. For other uses, see Big ring (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with the Giant GRB Ring, another large-scale structure, discovered on July 2015.

The Big Ring is a ring-shaped large-scale structure formed by galaxies and galaxy clusters near the constellation Boötes with a diameter of 1.3 billion light years, located 9.2 billion light years away.[1] It was discovered in 2024 by Alexia Lopez, a PhD student at the University of Central Lancashire.[2] In 2021, she discovered the Giant Arc, a similar structure located in the same region.[3] It is a significant astronomical discovery, as it challenges the Cosmological Principle. Currently, there is no known cause for its formation within our current understanding of the universe. The Big Ring is the seventh large structure discovered that contradicts the understanding of smooth matter distribution across the largest scale of the universe.[4]

  1. ^ "Discovery of second ultra-large structure in distant space further challenges our understanding of the universe". Phys.org. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  2. ^ Lopez, Alexia M.; Clowes, Roger G.; Williger, Gerard M. (2024). "A Big Ring on the Sky". Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (Preprint ed.). arXiv:2402.07591.
  3. ^ Devlin, Hannah (January 11, 2024). "Newly discovered cosmic megastructure challenges theories of the universe". The Guardian.
  4. ^ Ghosh, Pallab (January 12, 2024). "Huge ring of galaxies challenges thinking on cosmos". BBC.