Figure 23-24: The Large-Scale Distribution of Galaxies (a) This map shows the distribution of 62,559 galaxies in two wedges extending out to redshift z = 0.25. (For an explanation of right ascension and declination, see Box 2-1.) Note the prominent voids surrounded by thin regions full of galaxies. (b) The two wedges shown in (a) lie roughly perpendicular to the plane of the Milky Way. These were chosen to avoid the obscuring dust that lies in our Galaxy’s plane.

(Courtesy of the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey Team/Australian Astronomical Observatory)