Could Light from Distant Stars Be Doppelgangers Due to Gravitational Lensing?

  • Thread starter Thread starter c_helm@yahoo.com
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion explores the possibility that light from distant stars could be distorted by gravitational lensing, potentially creating "doppelgangers" of nearer objects. It raises the question of whether a cumulative effect could lead to multiple images of the same light source due to the gravitational influence of massive objects. Theoretically, this phenomenon is possible, but in practice, it is challenging to observe due to the faintness of these doppelgangers. Examples like Einstein crosses illustrate how gravitational lensing can produce double images of stars. Overall, while the concept is intriguing, the practical implications remain limited.
c_helm@yahoo.com
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Regarding the concept of light from distant stars "bending" due to the curvature of space caused by the gravity of massive objects:

Question: can there be a cumulative effect? Could some of the objects we see as light actually be dopplegangers of nearer objects, their light carroming around space riding a daisy-chain of massive objects? Is this even possible?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
c_helm@yahoo.com said:
Question: can there be a cumulative effect? Could some of the objects we see as light actually be dopplegangers of nearer objects, their light carroming around space riding a daisy-chain of massive objects? Is this even possible?

Theoretically, yes. In practice, I believe that this is difficult to observe or document - the intensity of these dopelgangers would be miniscule.

You can get things like einstein crosses and other sorts of gravity lens effects that lead to double images of stars.
 

Thread 'Potential biosignature found in Mars rock'

Publication: Redox-driven mineral and organic associations in Jezero Crater, Mars Article: NASA Says Mars Rover Discovered Potential Biosignature Last Year Press conference The ~100 authors don't find a good way this could have formed without life, but also can't rule it out. Now that they have shared their findings with the larger community someone else might find an explanation - or maybe it was actually made by life.
View full post »

Thread 'Does it make sense to build new radio telescopes?'

TL;DR Summary: In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect alien signals, it will further expand the radius of the so-called silence (or rather, radio silence) of the Universe. Is there any sense in this or is blissful ignorance better? In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect...
View full post »

Thread 'Our Beautiful Universe - Photos and Videos'

This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...
View full post »

Similar threads

B Are some objects in the night sky just older images of other objects?
Replies
12
Views
2K
B Neutron star 4U 1820-30 spins at 716 revolutions per second
Replies
0
Views
2K
I With gravitational lensing, which way is down?
Replies
24
Views
550
How Does Gravitational Lensing Bend Light in Space?
Replies
3
Views
3K
B Does Spacetime Have Physical Existence?
2
Replies
58
Views
3K
I Does gravity bend gravitational waves?
Replies
14
Views
1K
Does Light from Distant Stars Travel Slower than Light from the Sun?
Replies
9
Views
3K
B Proposed Experiment - Speed of Light
Replies
30
Views
3K
B Gravitational Wave Interference Graphical Computer Simulation
Replies
1
Views
2K
B Help me understand light traveling through vast distances in space
Replies
26
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top