Gravitational Lensing

Gravitational lensing, the bending of light by gravity, was first observed during the 1919 solar eclipse by Arthur Eddington, forever changing our understanding of how we map the invisible universe. This phenomenon, which demonstrated a deflection of 1.75 arcseconds for starlight passing near the sun, allows astronomers to detect concentrations of dark matter and observe galaxies that are significantly fainter than those typically within the detection limits of the Hubble Space Telescope. The precise predictions of gravitational lensing have led to the confirmation of over 100 Einstein rings, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of modern cosmology and a powerful tool for exploring the distant universe.