Astronomers have mapped the staggering scale of the cosmos. New data reveals the true size of the largest known planets, stars, and galaxies. These cosmic giants defy easy comprehension, stretching across millions of light-years.
Understanding these structures helps scientists test the limits of physical laws. According to analysis of data from observatories like Hubble, the scale of the universe is even more immense than previously thought.
Record-Breaking Planets and Stars
The search for large planets often leads to “Hot Jupiters.” These are gas giants orbiting dangerously close to their stars. One such planet, ROXs 42 Bb, may be the largest known. Its radius could be 2.5 times that of Jupiter.
However, its massive size blurs the line between planet and a failed star known as a brown dwarf. This classification challenge is common with the most extreme planetary bodies discovered.
Stars, too, reach incomprehensible sizes. The hypergiant star VY Canis Majoris currently holds the title for largest known star. If placed at the center of our solar system, its surface would extend past the orbit of Jupiter.
These stars are in the final stages of their life cycles. Their immense size signals an impending, dramatic transformation into a supernova or black hole.
The Scale of Galactic Structures
Beyond individual stars lie even larger structures. Galaxies like ESO 383-76 represent the upper limit of galactic size. This elliptical galaxy has a diameter measuring an incredible 1.8 million light-years.
For comparison, our Milky Way galaxy is about 100,000 light-years across. ESO 383-76’s size is governed by a supermassive black hole at its heart, one of the most massive ever found.
The largest structures are cosmic filaments and voids. The Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall is a galaxy filament estimated to be 10 billion light-years across. This challenges current cosmological models, as it seems almost too large to exist based on our understanding of the universe’s evolution.
Info at your fingertips
What is the largest planet in the universe?
The gas giant ROXs 42 Bb is currently considered the largest known planet. It has an estimated radius 2.5 times that of Jupiter. Its classification is sometimes debated due to its enormous mass.
Which star is bigger, UY Scuti or VY Canis Majoris?
As of recent measurements, VY Canis Majoris is considered larger. Stars like these are variable, meaning their size can change, so the ranking can shift as new data is collected by astronomers.
How do scientists measure the size of objects so far away?
They use methods like parallax for closer stars and redshift for galaxies. For very distant objects, brightness and light spectra provide critical data for estimating size and mass, though these are always estimates.
What is the biggest galaxy ever discovered?
The elliptical galaxy ESO 383-76 is the largest known. It spans approximately 1.8 million light-years in diameter, making it vastly larger than our own Milky Way.
Could there be something larger than the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall?
It is highly probable. As telescope technology improves, astronomers continue to discover larger structures. The observable universe is 92 billion light-years across, leaving much room for new, record-breaking discoveries.
Trusted Sources:
NASA, Hubble Space Telescope data, European Southern Observatory (ESO), Astronomical Journal.
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