gravitational lensing

The quasar J043947.08+163415.7 (red) is extremely far away, and its light has been amplified by an intervening galaxy (blue) much closer to Earth. Credit: NASA, ESA, and X. Fan (University of Arizona)
A quasar at the edge of the observable Universe shines with the light of 10 *trillion* Suns
Phil Plait

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Another Hubble stunner as it paves the way for JWST
Phil Plait
Aug 24, 2018
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The gigantic galaxy cluster RXC J0142.9+4438 contains several hundred galaxies, and was observed by Hubble to study even more distant background galaxies whose light was amplified by the gravity of the cluster. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, RELICS
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The chained princess’s drogue
Phil Plait
Jun 15, 2018
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The four images (A-D) of the quadruply lensed quasar J014709+463037 can be seen in this deep image taken by the Pan-STARRS telescope. The lensing galaxy (G) is marked by an X. Credit: Berghea et al.
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Two planets discovered: One by gravity, one by accident [Part 1]
Phil Plait
May 29, 2018
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Artwork of a star and exoplanet. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab
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The farthest star
Phil Plait
Apr 2, 2018
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Omega Centauri
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Astronomers may have found rogue planets… in another galaxy
Phil Plait
Feb 5, 2018
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The quasar RX J1131-1231 appears as a series of bright dots on a ring around the fuzzy elliptical galaxy in the center due to gravitational lensing. This is a Hubble image (red, green, and blue) combined with Chandra which sees X-rays (displayed as pink).
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Gravity warps a supernova into a quadruple play
Phil Plait
Nov 29, 2017
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The giant Keck telescope got a similar view of the lensed supernova iPTFgeu in the infrared (right) versus Hubble (left). Credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble & W. M. Keck Observatory
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Gravity betrays the presence of a planet orbiting a binary star 10,000 light years from Earth
Phil Plait
Oct 30, 2017
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Artwork depicting the exoplanet orbiting a binary star pair, 10,000 light years from Earth. Credit: NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI)
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A distant galaxy pushes Hubble beyond its limits
Phil Plait
Sep 14, 2017
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The “true” shape of the lensed galaxy (right, inset), reconstructed by mapping out the structure of the galaxy cluster and determining how it distorted the light of SGAS 1110 on its way to Earth. Credit: NASA, ESA, and T. Johnson (University of Michigan)
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Horseshoe galaxies and hand grenades
Phil Plait
Aug 7, 2017
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The Horseshoe Galaxy
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Einstein was right (again)! Astronomers watch as a star’s gravity bends light from another star
Phil Plait
Jun 7, 2017
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matter warps space
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Space bender: A galaxy cluster distorts the fabric of space, creating beautiful patterns of light
Phil Plait
May 15, 2017
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Abell 370
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