A Council of Giants

Understand

It is demonstrated that the Local Sheet is both geometrically and dynamically distinct from the Local Supercluster and that the evolution of the Sheet and Local Group were probably interconnected.

• The Sheet is inclined by 8 degrees with respect to the Local Supercluster, and the dispersion of giant members about the mid-plane is only 230 kpc.
• A "Council of Giants" with a radius of 3.75 Mpc encompasses the Local Group, demarcating a clear upper limit to the realm of influence of the Local Group.
• The only two giant elliptical galaxies in the Sheet sit on opposite sides of the Council, raising the possibility that they have somehow shepherded the evolution of the Local Group.