Gravitational Lensing: Extent & Effects on Universe

[Lexus Dominus]

What is the extent of gravitational lensing? i mean, if every single star, black hole, galaxy ect is lensing light in all directions it would surely make the true nature/structure of the universe far different than is observable, right? we could be seeing the same object in two completely different places at different wavelengths at two completely different times in its history.. or would light from an object it just become too dim too quickly to make any significant difference?

could the 'edge of the universe' only be the "edge of the observeable universe" because of a critical mass between it and a point of reference i.e that mass is acting as a black hole.

I wish i knew more about this kind of stuff its amazing, its just not my field of study :(

 

[DaleSwanson]

I think the answer is just that there is simply so much empty space in between objects. When a photon leaves a distant star it will travel for billions of years and never come close to anything of significant mass until it reaches Earth.

 

[Entropia]

Gravitational lensing is a fascinating phenomenon that has significant effects on our understanding of the universe. To answer your question, the extent of gravitational lensing is vast and encompasses all objects with mass, including stars, black holes, and galaxies. This means that every object in the universe has the potential to bend and distort light, creating multiple images of the same object or even magnifying its appearance.

As you mentioned, this can have a significant impact on our observations of the universe. For example, we could be seeing the same object in two different places at different points in its history, as the light from the object is being bent and redirected towards us. This can also make it difficult to accurately determine the true structure and nature of the universe, as the light we receive may not accurately represent the object's current state.

However, as you also pointed out, there is a limit to the effects of gravitational lensing. As light travels through space, it can become dimmer and eventually reach a point where it is no longer detectable. This means that the farther we look into the universe, the more limited our observations become. This is known as the "observable universe," as beyond a certain point, the light from objects is too dim for us to see.

It is possible that this "edge of the observable universe" is due to a critical mass between us and the object, acting as a black hole and preventing us from seeing beyond it. However, this is still a topic of ongoing research and debate in the scientific community.

Overall, gravitational lensing plays a crucial role in our understanding of the universe, and its extent and effects are still being explored and studied. It is indeed a fascinating topic, and I encourage you to continue learning about it and other areas of astrophysics that interest you. Science is a collaborative effort, and every field of study contributes to our understanding of the universe.