The Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled a breathtaking image of the Hydra constellation, showcasing distant galaxies and a remarkable phenomenon known as the Einstein ring.
This recent observation highlights a small section of the sky, revealing stars and galaxies at varied distances. The closest star, identified as a bright object near a blue galaxy, is located approximately 3,230 light-years away, as confirmed by the European Space Agency's Gaia observatory.
Behind this nearby star lies galaxy LEDA 803211, situated around 622 million light-years from Earth, exhibiting a bright core and scattered star clusters that reveal intricate details of its uneven disk.
Among the many distant galaxies captured, one stands out: a golden galaxy encircled by a nearly complete ring in the upper right corner of the image. This phenomenon, named the Einstein ring, occurs when light from a distant, bright object, such as a galaxy or quasar, passes through the gravitational field of a massive object situated between the light source and the observer.
According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, massive objects can curve spacetime, causing light passing through a strong gravitational field to bend. This bending results in a symmetrical circular shape known as the Einstein ring.
The galaxy depicted in the ring is located at a significant distance from Earth, allowing astronomers to observe it as it appeared when the universe was approximately 2.5 billion years old. The galaxy acting as the gravitational lens is likely closer to Earth, requiring nearly perfect alignment between the two galaxies to provide a glimpse into the early universe.