Abell 2218: A Galaxy Cluster Lens
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.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
