Astronomers Discover Massive “Cosmic Vine” Galaxy Structure
Astronomers have made a significant discovery, identifying a vast galaxy structure called the “Cosmic Vine,” measuring approximately 13 million light-years in length and containing at least 20 massive galaxies. The structure was observed at a redshift of 3.44, revealing its appearance when the universe was just 2.5 billion years old.
The discovery of Cosmic Vine offers new perspectives on the formation and evolution of massive galaxies, as it may serve as a precursor to a galaxy cluster, shedding light on the emergence of massive galaxies within them.
The identification of Cosmic Vine also suggests that massive quiescent galaxies can form within expanding large-scale structures, contrary to previous models suggesting their exclusive formation in the cores of mature galaxy clusters. The researchers propose that two of the most massive galaxies in the Vine, Galaxy A and Galaxy E, may have been subdued by substantial energy releases from a supermassive black hole before succumbing to the Vine’s core.
To further understand the formation of these giants, researchers emphasize the need for a more in-depth examination of quiescent cluster galaxies at high redshifts. The Euclid Space Telescope, recently launched to investigate the structure and history of large-scale structures in the universe, is expected to advance this research.
The research findings have been published in a preprint journal and can be accessed at the following link: https://dx.doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2311.04867.
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