|
Explanation: Gravity can bend light. Almost all of the bright objects in this recently released Hubble Space Telescope image are galaxies in the cluster known as Abell 2218. The cluster is so massive and so compact that its gravity bends and focuses the light from galaxies that lie behind it. As a result, multiple images of these background galaxies are distorted into long faint arcs - a simple lensing effect analogous to viewing distant street lamps through a glass of wine. The cluster of galaxies Abell 2218 is itself about three billion light-years away in the northern constellation Draco.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: cluster of galaxies - gravitational lens - galaxy cluster
Publications with words: cluster of galaxies - gravitational lens - galaxy cluster
See also:
- APOD: 2026 June 5 Á The Hydra Cluster of Galaxies
- APOD: 2025 October 3 Á Pandora's Cluster of Galaxies
- APOD: 2025 April 21 Á Galaxy Lenses Galaxy from Webb
- Pandora's Cluster of Galaxies
- APOD: 2024 March 27 Á The Coma Cluster of Galaxies
- UHZ1: Distant Galaxy and Black Hole
- The Fornax Cluster of Galaxies