A very rare astronomical phenomenon has been in the headlines a lot lately, and with good reason. It will be hundreds of years before we can see Jupiter and Saturn so close together again. However, there are more “really strange and very rare phenomena” that can be seen in our night sky right now. The only problem is that you need access to Hubble to observe this phenomenon.
As always, Hubble provides absolutely breathtaking photos. This particular image shows a gravitational lens effect that provides an almost perfect example of an “Einstein Ring”. The image of this ring, called GAL-CLUS-022058s, or, in a lit spot of astronomical surf, the “Molten Ring”, was released late last week.
That branding idea stemmed in part from the physical appearance of the object, which indeed looks like a ring of molten metal. But it also came from the location of the object itself. Located in the southern constellation of Fornax (the furnace), the image shows an extremely distant galaxy whose light is bent by a much closer cluster of galaxies.
Credit: NASA / Hubble / ESA
One of the advantages of this lens effect is that it allows scientists to better study the more distant galaxy, which might otherwise have been completely invisible. While this is not the only known example of the phenomena taking place, it is one of the most striking. But there may be much more to be found, which Hubble will continue to do, regardless of how our solar system’s planets are aligned.
Learn more:
NASA – Hubble sees a ‘molten ring’
Astronomy.com: Snapshot: Hubble captures a “molten ring.”
UT: Nearly perfect “Einstein Ring” discovered
UT: New “Einstein Ring” discovered by Dark Energy Camera