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A light source passes behind a gravitational lens (invisible point mass placed in the center of the image). The aqua circle is the light source as it would be seen if there were no lens, while white spots are the multiple images of the source (see Einstein ring).
While gravitational lensing preserves surface brightness, as dictated by Liouville's theorem, lensing does change the apparent solid angle of a source. The amount of magnification is given by the ratio of the image area to the source area. For a circularly symmetric lens, the magnification factor μ is given by
An Einstein Ring is a special case of gravitational lensing, caused by the exact alignment of the source, lens, and observer. This results in symmetry around the lens, causing a ring-like structure. [2] The geometry of a complete Einstein ring, as caused by a gravitational lens. The size of an Einstein ring is given by the Einstein radius.
Solar gravitational lens point, on a logarithmic scale. A solar gravitational lens or solar gravity lens (SGL) is a theoretical method of using the Sun as a large lens with a physical effect called gravitational lensing. [1] It is considered one of the best methods to directly image habitable exoplanets.
Gravitational microlensing of an extrasolar planet. If the lensing object is a star with a planet orbiting it, this is an extreme example of a binary lens event. If the source crosses a caustic, the deviations from a standard event can be large even for low mass planets.
An event called gravitational lensing allowed astronomers to discern a star 9 billion light-years away.
Strong gravitational lensing is a gravitational lensing effect that is strong enough to produce multiple images, arcs, or Einstein rings. Generally, for strong lensing to occur, the projected lens mass density must be greater than the critical density, that is . For point-like background sources, there will be multiple images; for extended ...
If they're able to use the sun as a giant gravity lens, NASA could see features the size of Central Park on distant planets.