Explanation:
Are the nearest galaxies distributed randomly?
A plot of over one million of the brightest "extended sources" detected by the
Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) shows that they are not.
The vast majority of these
infrared
extended sources are
galaxies.
Visible above is an incredible tapestry of structure that
provides limits
on how the universe formed and evolved.
Many galaxies are
gravitationally bound together to form
clusters,
which themselves are loosely bound into
superclusters, which in turn are sometimes seen to
align over even larger scale structures.
In contrast, very bright stars inside our own
Milky Way Galaxy
cause the vertical blue sash.
