Credit: ESA / Hubble & NASA, D. Coe
This extraordinary image of the NASA / ESA Hubble Space Telescope of the galaxy Abell 2813 (also known as ACO 2813) has an almost fine beauty, which also illustrates the remarkable physics that work in it. The image shows the concept of gravitational lens in a spectacular way.
Among the small dots, spirals, and ovals that are the galaxies that belong to the group, there are several distinct crescent shapes. These curved arcs are not curved galaxies. These are strong examples of a phenomenon known as the gravitational lens.
Gravitational lensing occurs when the mass of an object deflects light. The curved crescents and “S” shapes are light from galaxies lying beyond Abell 2813. The galaxy group has so much mass that it acts as a gravitational lens and the light of more galaxies bends around it. These deformations can occur in so many different shapes, such as long lines or arcs.
This visual evidence, that mass causes light to bend, is famously used as proof of Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
The image is a compilation of observations taken with the Hubble Space Telescope’s Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3.
Image: Hubble sees ‘fused ring’
Provided by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Quotation: Hubble Watch Cosmic Light Bend (2021, April 18) Detected April 18, 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2021-04-hubble-cosmic.html
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