Gravitational lens forms giant arc

This illustration shows how an image of a background galaxy is distorted and magnified by the gravitational field of a foreground galaxy. In this alignment gravity acts as a lens in space by warping space like a funhouse mirror. The image of a distant galaxy is stretched into a giant arc.

Credit:

NASAESA, and A. Feild (STScI)

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo1208d
Type:Artwork
Release date:8 February 2012, 15:36
Size:2100 x 2310 px

About the Object

Type:Unspecified : Galaxy : Type : Gravitationally Lensed
Category:Cosmology
Illustrations

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
1.2 MB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
296.2 KB

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared
Blue grism reference
986 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Optical
U
400 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Optical
V
590 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Optical
I
833 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Infrared
H
1.536 μm Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Infrared
J
1.248 μm Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Infrared
H
1.315 μm Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3

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