Hubble looks at the curve of cosmic light

This extraordinary image from the NASA / ESA Hubble Space Telescope of the Abell 2813 galaxy cluster (also known as ACO 2813) has an almost delicate beauty, which also illustrates the remarkable physics at work within it. The image dramatically demonstrates the concept of a gravitational lens.

Among the tiny dots, spirals and ovals that are the galaxies belonging to the cluster, there are several distinct crescent shapes. These curved arcs of light are not curved galaxies. These are good examples of a phenomenon known as the gravitational lens.

Gravitational lensing occurs when the mass of an object bends light. The curved crescents and “S” shapes are the light of the galaxies that lie beyond Abell 2813. The galaxy cluster has so much mass that it acts like a gravitational lens, bending the light of the galaxies over. distant surroundings. These distortions can appear as many different shapes, such as long lines or arcs.

This visual proof, that mass bends light, is used as proof of Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

The image is a compilation of observations taken with the Advanced Survey Camera and Wide Field Camera 3 of the Hubble Space Telescope.

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