Large-Scale Structure in the Distribution of Galaxies as a Probe of Cosmological Models

Abstract

The last 20 years have seen an explosion in our understanding of the large-scale distribution and motions of galaxies in the nearby universe. The field has moved from a largely qualitative, morphological description of the structures seen in the galaxy distribution, to a rich and increasingly rigorous statistical description, which allows us to constrain cosmological models. New surveys just now getting underway will be unprecedented in their uniformity and volume surveyed. The study of the evolution of large-scale structure with time is now becoming feasible.