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18 February, 2025
Discovery of Einstein Ring
Tue 18 Feb, 2025
Reference:
- The European Space Agency (ESA)'s Euclid Space Telescope has discovered a rare ring of light called the "Einstein Ring" around the galaxy NGC 6505.
- This galaxy is located 590 million light-years away from Earth.
Einstein Ring:
- An Einstein Ring is an event where the light coming from a distant galaxy bends around a massive object (such as another galaxy), forming a ring-like shape.
- This phenomenon is an example of gravitational lensing predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity.
- Gravitational lensing occurs when the gravitational field of a massive object bends and magnifies light, making distant objects appear larger and brighter.
- In this particular Einstein Ring, the NGC 6505 galaxy acts as a gravitational lens, distorting and amplifying light coming from an unknown galaxy located 4.42 billion light-years away.
The first Einstein Ring was discovered in 1987.
- The name "Einstein Ring" is named after mathematician and physicist Albert Einstein.
- Einstein had predicted in his General Theory of Relativity that light could bend and intensify around massive objects in the universe.
Gravitational Lensing:
- It is an astronomical event that occurs when a massive object (like a galaxy or black hole) bends the light rays, causing them to appear in a different direction.
- This phenomenon is related to Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity, which states that massive objects bend the fabric of space-time, affecting the path of light.
- Types of Gravitational Lensing: Weak Lensing, Strong Lensing, Microlensing.
Euclid Mission:
| Feature | Description |
| Mission Name | Euclid |
| Agency | European Space Agency (ESA) |
| Launch Date | July 2023 |
| Launch Vehicle | SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket |
| Location | Approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, at the second Lagrange point (L2) |
| Objective | Study of Dark Matter and Dark Energy, creating a 3D map of the Universe |
| Main Instruments | 1.2-meter mirror, Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer |
| Mission Duration | 6 years |
Major Discoveries by Albert Einstein:
| Discovery | Description |
| Theory of Relativity | Einstein explained the relationship between time, space, and gravity, revolutionizing our understanding of the universe. |
| Photoelectric Effect | This discovery showed that light can eject electrons from metals, contributing to the development of quantum mechanics. |
| Brownian Motion | Einstein demonstrated the irregular motion of particles suspended in liquids, providing evidence for the existence of atoms. |
| Mass-Energy Equivalence (E=mc²) | This equation demonstrated that mass and energy are interchangeable, forming the basis for nuclear energy. |
| Expansion of the Universe | Einstein showed that the universe is continuously expanding, contributing to the development of the Big Bang theory. |
Galaxy:
- A massive system consisting of billions of stars, gas, dust, and other celestial objects bound together by gravity.
- Galaxies are the fundamental structures of the universe and come in various shapes and types.
- Our Solar System and Earth’s home, the "Milky Way Galaxy," is a large galaxy.
Major Types of Galaxies:
1. Spiral Galaxies: These have a central spherical core and spiral arms, like our Milky Way Galaxy.
2. Elliptical Galaxies: These are round or elliptical in shape and have a more simple structure.
3. Irregular Galaxies: These lack a distinct shape and are in an irregular form.
Key Components of Galaxies:
- Stars: The most prominent component of galaxies, including our Sun.
- Gas and Dust: These exist during the formation process of stars.
- Black Holes: Often located at the centers of galaxies, such as the supermassive black hole in the center of our Milky Way.