Astronomers have identified a colossal ring-shaped structure known as the “Big Ring” situated an astounding 9.2 billion light-years away from Earth. The massive cosmic formation, composed of galaxies and galaxy clusters, boasts a diameter of approximately 1.3 billion light-years and a total circumference of around 4 billion light-years. If directly observable, it would span the night sky equivalent to 15 full moons.
The discovery, made by University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) PhD student Alexia Lopez, raises questions about the universe’s current understanding, especially considering its proximity to another ultra-large structure known as the Giant Arc.
Lopez, who previously identified the Giant Arc spanning 3.3 billion light-years, shared her thoughts on the significance of these structures, stating, “Neither of these two ultra-large structures is easy to explain in our current understanding of the universe. And their ultra-large sizes, distinctive shapes, and cosmological proximity must surely be telling us something important—but what exactly?” One possibility is a connection to baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAOs), yet detailed analysis suggests deviations from the expected spherical symmetry associated with BAOs.
The presence of two such enormous structures in close cosmological proximity adds an intriguing layer to our understanding of the universe, prompting further exploration and study.
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