2 March 1999 Southern Cosmic Census creates the largest map of the universe Astronomers have created the largest map of the Universe using the Anglo-Australian Telescope, in NSW, Australia and there is much more to come. Researchers are only part way through their work, and are planning to make the map 10 times as big. Astronomers plan to produce an extremely detailed three-dimensional map of the Southern heavens. We have been planning this survey for almost ten years, and as the results come flooding in our ambitious goals are being fulfilled. At this rate, we will have no problems completing our survey by 2001.
Redshifts give astronomers an idea of how far away a galaxy or quasar is.
This enables them to build up a real three-dimensional picture of the Universe, rather than the two dimensional view we see on the sky. By mapping quasars, astronomers can survey parts of the very distant Universe at the same time as nearer galaxies. In the past, information has been gleaned from 'flat' two-dimensional maps on the sky. We are now entering the era when large 3D-maps of the Universe will be routinely available via the Internet. The 2dF is one of the most complex astronomical instruments ever constructed.