Roman Lensing Gif (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Roman Lensing Gif

Caption

This animation shows the type of science that astronomers will be able to do with future Roman deep field observations. The gravity of intervening galaxy clusters and dark matter can lens the light from farther objects, warping their appearance as shown in the animation. By studying the distorted light, astronomers can study elusive dark matter, which can only be measured indirectly through its gravitational effects on visible matter. As a bonus, this lensing also makes it easier to see the most distant galaxies whose light they magnify.

Credit

Caltech-IPAC/R. Hurt

Usage Restrictions

No restrictions.

License

Public Domain

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