What fundamental difference makes the Virgo Cluster dwarf the Milky Way in scale?

Answer

The Milky Way is a single island universe, while the Virgo Cluster is a collection containing over a thousand such islands.

The fundamental reason the Virgo Cluster is significantly larger and more massive than the Milky Way galaxy lies in their basic composition regarding galactic units. The Milky Way is classified as a single, massive spiral galaxy, representing one 'island universe.' Conversely, the Virgo Cluster is defined as a dense, gravitationally bound congregation that harbors over 1,300 confirmed galaxies, potentially many more. Therefore, the cluster is structurally superior because it contains a vast multitude of entire galaxies, making the mass and physical volume disparity immense when comparing one galaxy to a collection of more than a thousand.

What fundamental difference makes the Virgo Cluster dwarf the Milky Way in scale?

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