ESA’s Euclid space telescope recently captured an Einstein ring around galaxy NGC 6505. This rare phenomenon occurs when a massive object bends light from a more distant galaxy, as predicted by Einstein’s general relativity. Studying Einstein rings helps scientists map dark matter, probe cosmic expansion, and understand the universe’s structure.
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The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid space telescope has captured an Einstein ring.
It is a ring of light that forms around a massive object, like a galaxy or cluster of galaxies, due to gravitational lensing.
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Gravitational lensing happens when a massive object’s gravitational field bends and amplifies light from a more distant object behind it. This creates a ring-like shape when the alignment is perfect. The phenomenon is named after Albert Einstein, whose theory of general relativity predicted that massive objects could bend light. |
Einstein rings are not visible to the naked eye because they occur over vast cosmic distances and involve extremely faint light. Only powerful space telescopes can detect and capture these phenomena.
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid space telescope captured images of an Einstein ring around the galaxy NGC 6505, located about 590 million light-years from Earth. The light being bent comes from a more distant galaxy, 4.42 billion light-years away.
Einstein rings are extremely rare. Less than 1% of galaxies have an Einstein ring. The first one was discovered in 1987, and only a few have been found since.
Dark matter, which makes up about 85% of the total matter in the universe, does not interact with light and has never been directly detected. However, its gravitational effects can be observed through gravitational lensing. Einstein rings help scientists to map the distribution of dark matter in the universe.
Gravitational lensing magnifies light from galaxies, which allows astronomers to study the properties of these faraway galaxies in greater detail.
Einstein rings can provide understanding about the rate at which the universe is expanding.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. What phenomenon is responsible for the formation of Einstein rings? A) Electromagnetic radiation B) Gravitational lensing C) Supernova explosions D) Cosmic microwave background Answer: B Explanation: Einstein rings form when light from a distant source is bent by the gravitational field of a massive object (e.g., a galaxy) between the source and observer, a process called gravitational lensing. |
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