What are gravitational lenses?

In summary, gravitational lenses are a phenomenon in which the gravitational force of massive objects, such as galaxies, can bend and distort the light from more distant objects. This creates a magnifying effect, allowing us to see distant objects that would otherwise be too faint to detect. An example of this can be seen in an image released by NASA, where two bright stars on the left and a third one slightly farther away are actually one star being gravitationally lensed by another. Other notable examples include a galaxy with a large star in the center.
  • #1
kiru
22
0
What are gravitational lenses?
 
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  • #2
Look here: http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~soper/Mass/gravlens.html
 
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  • #3
I saw the page that you gave.But in the image that was released by Nasa as reality ,I can't undestand anything.
 
  • #4
kiru said:
I saw the page that you gave.But in the image that was released by Nasa as reality ,I can't undestand anything.
See the two bright stars really close to each other on the left and third one a little farther away. That's really one star and some other star serving as a source of gravity. In the middle bottom part an object looks like a galaxy with a big star in the middle. That's the last example they mention. There are others but these are the most noticable.
 
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  • #5
Yes.Thanks!
 

1. What are gravitational lenses?

Gravitational lenses are astronomical phenomena in which the light from a distant object is bent and distorted by the gravitational pull of a massive object, such as a galaxy or a cluster of galaxies.

2. How do gravitational lenses work?

Gravitational lenses work by bending and focusing light from a distant object, just like a regular lens. However, instead of being made of glass, gravitational lenses are created by the powerful gravitational forces of massive objects in space.

3. What are the types of gravitational lenses?

There are three main types of gravitational lenses: strong lenses, weak lenses, and microlenses. Strong lenses are the most powerful and can create multiple images of the same distant object. Weak lenses have a smaller effect on light and can only produce slight distortions. Microlenses are tiny objects, such as stars, that can act as lenses on a smaller scale.

4. What can we learn from gravitational lenses?

Gravitational lenses provide valuable information about the distribution of matter in the universe, including dark matter. They also allow us to study distant objects that would otherwise be too faint to observe. Additionally, studying gravitational lenses can help us better understand the properties of gravity itself.

5. How are gravitational lenses discovered and studied?

Gravitational lenses are typically discovered through observations using powerful telescopes. Scientists can then use computer models and simulations to study the properties of the lensing object and the distorted images. Gravitational lenses can also be studied through gravitational lensing surveys, which observe large areas of the sky to find lensing events and gather data on the distribution of matter in the universe.

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