What metric unit represents the 50-55 million light-year distance to Virgo?
Answer
Megaparsecs (Mpc)
Astronomers frequently utilize megaparsecs (Mpc) when quantifying the immense distances separating galaxy clusters. The contemporary measurements for the Virgo Cluster, which hover between 50 to 55 million light-years from Earth, translate directly into a range of approximately 16 to 16.5 megaparsecs. This established distance is crucial because the Virgo Cluster functions as a vital reference point, serving as a fundamental stepping stone upon which the entire cosmological distance scale is built. Slight adjustments in this distance estimate have a direct cascading effect on the calculation of other critical universal parameters, such as the Hubble Constant.
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