Virgo Supercluster
The Virgo Supercluster (also Local Supercluster ) is a super clusters of galaxies. It contains, among other things, the Local Group, which also includes the Milky Way belongs.
Properties
The Virgo Supercluster contains about 100-200 galaxies. Its gravitational center of the Virgo cluster of galaxies (about 2000 galaxies), after which it is named. Other large clusters are the Fornax cluster of galaxies and the Eridanus galaxy clusters. The Local Group and the neighboring galaxy groups such as the M81 group, the M83 group, or the Sculptor Group are located approximately midway between Fornax and Virgo cluster. The Virgo Supercluster has a diameter of about 150 to 200 million light years, and the shape of a flattened disk.
The total mass of the Virgo supercluster is estimated at over 1015 solar masses ( about 2 × 1045 kg ). This is made possible by the observation gravitational effects on the motion of the individual galaxies. Since the luminosity of the Virgo supercluster is too low for the estimated number of stars, this estimate is an indication of the existence of dark matter. You probably makes up the largest proportion of the mass of the Virgo supercluster.
The Virgo Supercluster is moving at about 600 km / s in the direction of Hydra- Centaurus Supercluster, and -. Along with other superclusters - at a similar rate in 1990 discovered the Great Attractor in 200 million light years away
Virgo infall
The Local Group moves away about 1000 km / s from the central Virgo cluster of galaxies. At a distance of about 65 million light years, this rate is lower than would be expected according to the Hubble law. In relation to the general expansion of the universe, the Milky Way and the Local Group therefore moving towards the Virgo cluster. This phenomenon bears the English name Virgo infall.