How does the angular diameter of the Virgo Cluster compare to the angular size of the full Moon?
Answer
It spans an area equivalent to about 16 to 20 full Moons across.
When viewed from Earth, the Virgo Cluster spans a broad area across the sky, with its angular diameter mapped variously between approximately 8 degrees and 10 degrees, depending on the mapping method used. To contextualize this span, the angular size of the full Moon as seen from Earth is about half a degree. By comparing these measurements, one determines that the Virgo Cluster occupies an angular width equivalent to approximately 16 to 20 full Moons laid side-by-side. This wide angular extent reflects the cluster's immense physical size across space relative to its distance.
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