Astronomy: Biggest 3D map yet of the "local" universe

Scientists have outlined the positions of all the galaxies and galaxy groupings, out to a distance of about 600 million light-years from Earth. The work by US, UK and Australian scientists is reported in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The data will aid the study of cosmic evolution and help to explain why the universe takes the form it does. Galaxies tend to cluster together, and these groupings form superclusters represented on the maps. Plus, not only does the map plot all of the visible material in the near universe, but also it gives clues to the distribution of the invisible "dark matter" that scientists cannot detect directly but which they believe is woven into fabric of normal matter. The Royal Astrological Society: <http://www.ras.org.uk/>