Galaxy groups and clusters

Galaxy groups and clusters represent fundamental hierarchical structures in the large-scale distribution of matter in the universe. They are massive accumulations of galaxies, along with vast amounts of hot intergalactic plasma and unseen dark matter, bound together primarily by gravity. Galaxy groups are smaller, containing dozens of galaxies, while clusters are significantly larger, holding hundreds or even thousands of galaxies. The formation and evolution of these structures are dictated by gravitational dynamics, resulting in complex cosmic web filaments and knots. Within these systems, galaxies interact, merge, and exchange material, leading to observable phenomena such as X-ray emission from the hot plasma filling the largest clusters, which provides critical data regarding the overall mass and composition of the system.