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Glite Dictionary
Great Attractor

Great Attractor

1 9.9
A very large group of galaxies that pulls other galaxies with strong gravity
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Gran Atractor
  • In our part of the universe, the largest pull comes from a region called the Great Attractor.
  • Great Attractor, the supercluster
  • galaxies in the Great Attractor
  • Great Attractor's mass

We're moving towards something called the Great Attractor and no one has any idea what that is or why we're going there.

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Examples

  • The Milky Way is part of the "Local Group," which is rushing towards the "Great Attractor."

    Blog text (2)

  • The Milky Way is part of the 'Local Group,' which is rushing towards the Great Attractor.

  • We're moving towards something called the Great Attractor and no one has any idea what that is or why we're going there.

    Sabine Hossenfelder

  • What do we know about the great attractor and what are your thoughts on what it is or could be?

    StarTalk

  • However, the point of reference is valid. The Milky Way is part of the "Local Group," which is rushing towards the "Great Attractor."

    Blog text (2)

  • Unlike the visible collection of galaxies in the Virgo Supercluster, the Great Attractor first became apparent from its gravitational pull on nearby galaxies.

Synonyms

supergalaxy
vsGreat Attractor
  • Specialized
1 9.7

A very large group of stars and galaxies that forms in space

is a massive concentration in one direction that influences other galaxies gravitationally

Surface Forms

Great Attractor singular
Great Attractors plural

Morphology

great + attractor

The combination of 'great' (large/significant) and 'attractor' (something that attracts) yields a compositional sense — a large or powerful thing that attracts — so a learner who knows both words could guess it denotes a strong attracting entity. However, as a specialized proper noun referring to a specific astrophysical concentration of galaxies and its gravitational influence, the precise referent and domain-specific meaning are not fully predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

Great Attractor comes from what astronomers saw: many galaxies seemed to move toward the same spot, as if a huge, unseen thing was 'pulling' them. That image led to the name great attractor, meaning a very large mass that draws nearby galaxies.