10 Largest Galaxies in the Universe
Galaxies are vast collections of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter held together by gravity. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with some of the largest galaxies containing trillions of stars. These enormous cosmic structures are often found at the centers of galaxy clusters and superclusters, and their immense gravitational pull can influence the movement of smaller nearby galaxies. In addition to stars, galaxies can also contain a variety of other objects such as planetary systems, black holes, and nebulae. Despite their impressive size, galaxies are constantly evolving and changing over time through the process of merging and interacting with other galactic structures.
The mysteries of the universe, including the formation and evolution of the largest galaxies, continue to captivate and challenge our understanding of the cosmos.
Despite their size, these largest galaxies are just a small fraction of the total number of galaxies in the universe. In fact, there may be as many as 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe, and each one is unique in its own way. From tiny dwarf galaxies to giant ellipticals and spirals, the universe is home to a diverse range of galactic structures and types. Regardless of their size or shape, however, all galaxies are fascinating and offer a glimpse into the mysteries of the cosmos. Let’s explore an interesting list of 10 largest galaxies in the universe.
- ESO 383-76
- ESO 409-25
- ESO 248-6 (Largest Lenticular Galaxy)
- 2MASX J14102504+6337103
- ESO 151-41
- MCG-04-02-013
- Abell 1576 BCG
- ESO 306-17
- ESO 350-15
- Abell 1146 BCG
10 Abell 1146 BCG Galaxy
ESO 350-15 is a massive galaxy located in the constellation Crater. It is an elliptical galaxy, characterized by a smooth and round shape with little visible structure. It is one of the largest galaxies, with a major diameter of over 1,009,000 light-years and a minor diameter of 767,100 light-years. ESO 350-15 is relatively unknown compared to other well-studied galaxies due to its distance from Earth and its location in the southern hemisphere. However, it is an important object of further research, as it can provide insights into the formation and evolution of large galaxies in the universe.
9 ESO 350-15 Galaxy
It is a massive galaxy with a major diameter of 1,043,000 light years and a minor diameter of 521,600 light years. The galaxy is classified as a cD3, E3 galaxy, which means it is a moderately elliptical galaxy. It is also the brightest galaxy in its cluster, making it an important object of study for astronomers. Despite its impressive size and brightness, not much else is known about ESO 350-15 as it is located relatively far away from the Milky Way. Further observations and research will be needed to learn more about this intriguing galaxy.
8 ESO 306-17 Galaxy
ESO 306-17 is the eighth largest galaxy in our universe and its type is elliptical. It is found alone in space, meaning there are no other galaxies or massive stars around it. From this it is concluded that it has cannibalized the smaller galaxies and stars around it by its gravitational force. This giant elliptical galaxy exists in Columba constellation and its major diameter is 1,070,000 light years. Its distance from our galaxy is approx. 500,000 million light years.
7 Abell 1576 BCG Galaxy
Abell 1576 BCG is a supergiant elliptical galaxy with a major diameter of 1,077,000 light years and a minor diameter of 517,200 light years. This makes it rank #7 on the list of 10 largest galaxies in the universe. Its structural property or morphology type is cD db, meaning it is a large, smooth, and featureless ellipse with a bright central region. The galaxy is known for its brightness and has been studied extensively by astronomers and students.
6 MCG-04-02-013 Galaxy
MCG-04-02-013 is a massive galaxy located in the constellation Pisces. It has a diameter of 1,115,000 light years and is classified as an E-type galaxy based on its structural properties. MCG-04-02-013 is a spiral galaxy, meaning it has a distinct central region surrounded by a flat disk of stars, gas, and dust. The galaxy is one of the largest known in the universe and has been studied extensively by astronomers and scientists.
5 ESO 151-41 Galaxy
ESO 151-41 is a massive galaxy located approximately 1131 million light years away from Earth. It has a major diameter of 1,132,000 light years and a minor diameter of 453,000 light years. This makes it one of the largest known galaxies in the universe. Its size is truly staggering, with an enormous mass and a vast number of stars and other celestial objects. Because of its immense size and distance, ESO 151-41 has been studied extensively by astronomers and scientists.This provides valuable insights into the structure and evolution of the universe.
4 2MASX J14102504+6337103 Galaxy
At No. 4 we have a unique galaxy whose name consists of random letters and numbers. This galaxy was discovered by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope when it was merging with another galaxy. The result of this merger is a thin haze around the galaxy made up of millions of small stars. Due to the extremely low amount of galactic gases in this galaxy formed by the merger of two galaxies, the chances of forming new stars are now negligible. The galaxy has a diameter of 1,134,000 light years, which is 13 times bigger than the Milky Way.
3 ESO 248-6 (Largest Lenticular Galaxy)
ESO 248-6 scores third place in the list of 10 largest galaxies in the universe. Its major axis diameter is 1,335,000 light years, which makes it one of the brightest lenticular galaxies. ESO 248-6 exists in the Eridanus constellation and the average distance of this lenticular galaxy from the Earth is about 841,483,454.45 light years. It will take you around 20,321 years to get into this galaxy if you travel in a space probe (e.g. New Horizon).
* A space probe is an artificial satellite that travels through space to collect scientific data.
2 ESO 409-25 Galaxy
ESO 409-25 is another elliptical galaxy found in the Sculptor constellation. It has a diameter of 1,45,400 light years, which makes it almost 17 times bigger than the Milky Way galaxy. According to studies in Caltech, the distance between the Earth and ESO 409-25 Galaxy is almost 580,558,352.30 light years. If you travel on a Concord toward this galaxy, it will take around 437,014.76 years. This galaxy is moving away from or towards the sun at the speed of 18456 km/s.
1 ESO 383-76 Galaxy
ESO 383-76 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy located in the constellation, “Centaurus”. It is one of the largest galaxies in the universe, with a size of 540.89 kiloparsecs (1,760,000 light-years), which is almost 20 times bigger than our own galaxy, the Milky Way. It is the brightest and largest member of the galaxy cluster, “Abell 3571”. The galaxy also boasts a large number of star-forming regions, which give it a stunning appearance in telescopes.
The galaxy has a relatively pure and unaltered structure, making it a unique object of study for astronomers. Astronomers currently have no indication that there are aliens or any such creatures in this galaxy. This galaxy is so far from our Earth that when you look at it, you are actually seeing a view of the galaxy that is hundreds of millions of years old. However, this galaxy cannot be seen by the naked eye; you have to use a telescope to see it.
Source: Wikipedia
Wow, these galaxies are absolutely huge! It’s hard to even wrap my mind around their size.
Agree!
They truly are cosmic giants.
I didn’t realize that there were so many different types of galaxies. It’s fascinating to see the variety of shapes and sizes.
Yes, the diversity of galaxy types is really interesting.
It’s amazing to think about how much we have yet to learn about the universe and all of its mysteries. These largest galaxies are just a small fraction of all the galaxies out there. Very informative article!
Each one is unique in its own way.
I love reading about space and all of the different celestial bodies. This article was really interesting and gave me a lot of new information about some of the largest galaxies in the universe.
Just amazing!
It’s interesting to think about how these massive galaxies have evolved over time. It must be incredible to study them and try to piece together their history.
I had no idea that some galaxies could be so much larger than the Milky Way. It’s mind-blowing to think about all of the stars and other objects that could be contained within these enormous structures.
Mind-boggling information. Great article and great research!
I’m always amazed by the size and scale of the universe. These largest galaxies are just one small piece of the puzzle, but they’re still incredibly impressive.
I found it really interesting to read about the different structural properties of these galaxies. It’s amazing to think about how different they can look and how that impacts their behavior.
I never realized that some galaxies could be so far away from us. It’s incredible to think about how vast the universe truly is.
This article was really educational and gave me a lot of new information about some of the largest galaxies in the universe. I’m always fascinated by anything related to space, and this was a great read.