359-cosmic-structure-dixon Large Scale Structure of Universe - This theoretical cosmological diagram illustrates the structural hierarchy and scale of matter distribution in the universe, arranged in a counter-clockwise loop of spherical vignettes connected by expanding blue field cones. The sequence scales upward from an individual, finely detailed blue spiral galaxy at the top-left, moving through a localized group of galaxies, a massive galaxy cluster populated by hundreds of points of light, and a broader supercluster network. The culmination on the right shows the large-scale cosmic web structure of filaments and voids, which eventually smooths out at the maximum scale into a homogeneous, uniform lavender sphere, demonstrating the cosmological principle where the universe becomes uniform on its largest scales. digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American
Click to open this image within the album!