Large-scale structure of the Universe

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/large-scale-structure-of-the-universe

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the cosmic web topology?Characterized by voids, filaments, walls, and galaxy clusters
2. Why do galaxies form a web instead of being spread out evenly?Tiny bumps in the early universe grew over time because of gravity. These bumps pulled matter together into clusters and long filaments, creating the web.
3. How do scientists see the cosmic web?They use big sky surveys like the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, 2MASS, and the Dark Energy Survey. These surveys map millions of galaxies in three dimensions, showing the web’s patterns.

Cosmic Web: The large-scale, three-dimensional distribution of matter in the universe, forming a network of filaments and voids.
Voids: Vast, underdense regions of space that occupy the majority of the universe's volume, separated by filaments and walls.
Filaments: Long, thread-like structures composed of galaxies and dark matter, connecting denser regions like galaxy clusters.
Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO): Characteristic ripples in the distribution of matter, acting as a standard ruler to measure cosmic distances.