A Gravitational Lens

Published 2 hours ago
Source: theatlantic.com
A Gravitational Lens
Many galaxies in a cluster, with most appearing stretched or warped in varying ways
ESA / Webb, NASA & CSA, H. Atek, M. Zamani

Day 24 of the 2025 Space Telescope Advent Calendar: A Gravitational Lens. Galaxies in this James Webb Space Telescope image appear to be stretched into arcs and lines, their appearance warped and magnified by powerful gravitational lensing in Galaxy Cluster Abell S1063, which bends the light of more distant galaxies as it passes through on its way to Earth.

See the full advent calendar here, where a new image will be revealed each day until December 25.