Shapley Supercluster

Shapley Supercluster
Galaxies in the Shapley Supercluster
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
ConstellationCentaurus
Right ascension13h 25m
Declination−30° 0′ 0″
Major axis625 Mly (191.5 Mpc)
(978 Mly (300.0 Mpc)?)
Distance200 Mpc (652 Mly)
Other designations
Shapley Supercluster, Shapley Concentration, SCl 124, Shapley BoA, Shapley basin of attraction, Shapley–Centaurus CL, [KK95] 578, Shapley Supercl, [EET94] SCG 80, [ZZS93] 26

The Shapley Supercluster or Shapley Concentration (SCl 124) is one of the largest concentrations of galaxies in the universe that forms a gravitationally interacting unit, thereby pulling itself together instead of expanding with the universe. It appears as a striking overdensity in the distribution of galaxies in the constellation of Centaurus. Its center is located roughly 650 million light-years away (z=0.046).

Latest observations suggest Shapley Concentration may contain the Laniakea (which in turn contains the Local Group, including the Milky Way) along with a few other nearby superclusters that are moving towards the structure.