We have given our boat the name Laniakea because we really like both the word and its meaning.
Laniakea is a fascinating concept that describes the size and structure of the observable universe. The term “Laniakea” comes from the Hawaiian language and means “immeasurable heaven” or “vast celestial empyrean.” It refers to the huge supercluster region that includes our Milky Way galaxy.
The discovery of Laniakea was a milestone in astronomy. It was announced in 2014 by a team of international scientists led by R. Brent Tully. These researchers used data on the distribution of galaxies to map the structure of the universe on large scales. In doing so, they found that galaxies are arranged in a massive cosmic filament structure, similar to a “cosmic web.” Laniakea is the name they gave to this structure.
Laniakea encompasses about 100,000 galaxies and spans an incredible expanse of approximately 520 million light-years. Our Milky Way is just one of many galaxies in this cosmic network. This discovery highlights that our home galaxy does not exist in isolation in the universe but is part of a larger web of galaxies and cosmic structures.
The concept of Laniakea contributes to expanding our understanding of the universe and recognizing our humble position within it. It reminds us of how tiny we are compared to the immense size of the cosmos and that there is still much to explore and discover.
