Astronomers have detected a rare “Einstein ring” of light around a nearby galaxy, using Europe’s Euclid space telescope. The halo, formed by the bending of light from a distant galaxy, encircles the closer galaxy 590 million light-years away. This rare sighting is special due to its proximity to Earth and unique alignment. Scientists are excited about this discovery as it provides valuable insights into gravitational lensing, a process that bends light around massive objects. The Euclid telescope, launched in 2023, is part of NASA’s mission to detect dark energy and dark matter.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/euclid-space-telescope-einstein-ring-d2f131209c970e7e16ca016d231a8054