The Laniakea Supercluster is a vast group of galaxies that includes our own Milky Way. It spans approximately 520 million light-years and contains around 100,000 galaxies, making it one of the largest known structures in the universe. The name 'Laniakea' means 'immense heaven' in Hawaiian, reflecting its grandeur and scale.
Discovered in 2014, the Laniakea Supercluster is part of a larger cosmic web and plays a crucial role in the gravitational dynamics of the universe. It is home to several notable galaxy clusters, including the Virgo Cluster, which is the closest cluster to Earth and significantly influences the motion of our galaxy.