This page describes an image The Happy Face of Gravitational Lensing
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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.
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Image credit: NASA/ESA Credit Link
Related glossary terms:
Gravitational Lens
Categories:
Cosmology
, Galaxies
Image license: Public Domain Public Domain icons
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Captions in Different Languages:
Image caption: Dieses vom NASA/ESA Hubble-Weltraumteleskop aufgenommene Bild zeigt den Galaxienhaufen SDSS J1038+4849, der aufgrund seiner auffälligen Ähnlichkeit mit einem lächelnden Gesicht liebevoll als "Happy Face"-Haufen bezeichnet wird. Die beiden hellen Galaxien im Zentrum ähneln orangefarbenen Augen, während die sie umgebenden Bögen die Illusion eines Lächelns erzeugen. Diese Bögen sind in Wirklichkeit das Ergebnis starker Gravitationslinsen, ein Phänomen, bei dem die immense Anziehungskraft des Haufens das Licht von Hintergrundobjekten verzerrt und vergrößert. Dieser besondere Fall von Gravitationslinsenbildung hat einen Einstein-Ring hervorgebracht, eine ringförmige Struktur, die durch die präzise Ausrichtung von Quelle, Linse und Beobachter entsteht. Durch die Untersuchung dieser Gravitationslinsen erhalten die Astronomen Einblicke in die Eigenschaften massereicher Galaxien, was ein tieferes Verständnis des frühen Universums ermöglicht.
Image credit: NASA/ESA
Related glossary terms: Gravitationslinse Caption translation status: Not yet approved by a reviewer
Caption translators: Emma Krojanski
Image caption: Catturata dal telescopio spaziale Hubble della NASA/ESA, questa immagine mostra l'ammasso di galassie SDSS J1038+4849, affettuosamente soprannominato "faccia felice" per la sua sorprendente somiglianza con un volto sorridente. Le due galassie luminose al centro assomigliano a occhi arancioni, mentre gli archi che le circondano danno l'illusione di un sorriso. Questi archi sono in realtà il risultato di una forte lente gravitazionale, un fenomeno in cui l'immensa attrazione gravitazionale dell'ammasso distorce e ingrandisce la luce degli oggetti di sfondo. Questo particolare caso di lente gravitazionale ha prodotto un Anello di Einstein, una struttura ad anello formata dall'allineamento preciso di sorgente, lente e osservatore. Studiando queste lenti gravitazionali, gli astronomi possono comprendere le proprietà delle galassie massicce, consentendo una comprensione più approfondita dell'Universo primordiale.
Image credit: NASA/ESA
Related glossary terms: Lente gravitazionale Caption translation status: Not yet approved by a reviewer
Caption translators: Giuliana Giobbi
