Hubble Captures An Einstein Ring

[oldskeet]

"A new photograph from the Hubble Space Telescope shows a stunning “Einstein Ring” billions of light-years from Earth — a phenomenon named after Albert Einstein, who predicted that gravity could bend light."

www.nbcnews.com/science/space/hubble-captures-einstein-ring-rcna1753

[chang]

Aug 27, 2021 8:48:21 GMT oldskeet said:

"A new photograph from the Hubble Space Telescope shows a stunning “Einstein Ring” billions of light-years from Earth — a phenomenon named after Albert Einstein, who predicted that gravity could bend light."

www.nbcnews.com/science/space/hubble-captures-einstein-ring-rcna1753

Fascinating picture. Almost makes up for my portfolio cratering yesterday. The 1919 eclipse was big news, and cemented Einstein's fame. See below.

In fact, his theory was "proven" immediately in 1915 when he explained the deviation in the orbit of Mercury, which had puzzled astronomers for a century. (Mercury's elliptical orbit is not exactly closed: the perihelion [closest approach to the sun] rotates, or "precesses", very slowly. Only 43 seconds of arc per century; a tiny but noticeable deviation.)

But scientists were more excited by a prediction of something that had never been tested or measured. And Einstein's theory predicted that light would bend in the gravitational field of the Sun. Again, his prediction was verified by Eddington almost exactly.

[bb2]

So interesting that space is a thing. Time too. Thank you, smart people.

[alvinthechipmunk]

In school, I hated science. Except when it came to astronomy. I eat it up. Yes, thank you, smart people.

[Chahta]

Back when newspapers had news.

[alvinthechipmunk]

Nov 14, 2021 13:04:26 GMT Chahta said:

Back when newspapers had news.

And somebody actually took the time to proofread for typos and mistakes.