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Hubble image of the "happy face" galaxy cluster with bright galaxies forming eyes and arcs due to gravitational lensing.

The Happy Face of Gravitational Lensing

image

Caption: Captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, this image showcases the galaxy cluster SDSS J1038+4849, affectionately dubbed the "happy face" cluster due to its striking resemblance to a smiling face. The two bright galaxies at the center resemble orange eyes, while the arcs surrounding them form the illusion of a smile. These arcs are actually a result of strong gravitational lensing, a phenomenon where the cluster's immense gravitational pull distorts and magnifies light from background objects. This particular case of gravitational lensing has produced an Einstein Ring, a ring-like structure formed by the precise alignment of the source, lens, and observer. By studying these gravitational lenses, astronomers gain insights into the properties of massive galaxies, allowing for a deeper understanding of the early Universe.
Credit: NASA/ESA
Credit Link

Glossary Terms: Gravitational Lens
Categories: Cosmology , Galaxies

License: Public Domain Public Domain icons

File ( image 1.53 MB)


On the outskirts of a cluster of galaxies is an arc of light. On this arc is a dot, an image of one of the first stars

A gravitational lens magnifies one of the first stars

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Caption: This image zooms in on a star formed within the first billion years after the birth of the Universe (at a redshift of 6.2). The Hubble Space Telescope detected this light using a technique called gravitational lensing. A massive galaxy cluster between the observer and the imaged star creates a distorted and warped image of the parent galaxy and reveals its features.
Credit: NASA, ESA, B. Welch (JHU), D. Coe (STScI), A. Pagan (STScI)
Credit Link

Glossary Terms: Gravitational Lens , Star
Categories: Cosmology , Stars

License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) icons

File ( image 6.12 MB)


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