Structure of superclusters and supercluster formation - IV. Spatial distribution of clusters of galaxies in the Coma Supercluster and its large-scale environment.

The Coma-A1367 Supercluster and its large-scale environment are investigated. The Zwicky et al. (1961-68) clusters are used as supercluster tracers; superclusters are defined not by visual impression but on the basis of cluster analysis. Attention is restricted to an area of the sky where RA is between 9h and 15h, with Dec. greater than -3 deg. Clustering analysis is applied to study the spatial distribution. At neighborhood radii R = 15-25 Mpc (for Hubble constant H = 50 km per s per Mpc), the clusters form chains and superclusters of galaxies. It is noted that at R = 26-28 Mpc, superclusters merge to a single connected network. Cluster chains link the Coma-A1367 Supercluster with the Local Supercluster, A779, and Hercules Superclusters. The Coma-A1367 Supercluster comprises four cluster chains, and its diameter is greater than 100 Mpc. It is noted that a typical cluster chain has eight Zwicky clusters and is 80 Mpc in length. Most, if not all, of the clusters form connected systems. Empty regions devoid of clusters have diameters up to 100 Mpc in this region of the sky. The morphology distribution of bright galaxies and the mean absolute magnitude of first ranked galaxies in Zwicky clusters are found to be similar to the respective quantities in Abell clusters.