Gravitasjonsskilning

Gravitasjonsskilning, also known as gravitational lensing, is a phenomenon where massive objects in space bend the path of light from objects behind them. This bending is caused by the gravitational pull of the massive object, as predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. The massive object acts like a lens, distorting and magnifying the light from the distant source.

The effect of gravitational lensing can manifest in several ways. It can cause multiple images of the same distant object to appear around the lensing object. It can also lead to the formation of arcs or even a complete ring of light, known as an Einstein ring, if the source, lens, and observer are perfectly aligned. The degree of bending depends on the mass of the lensing object and the distance between the source and the observer.

Astronomers use gravitational lensing to study distant galaxies that would otherwise be too faint to observe. It also allows them to estimate the mass of galaxy clusters and other massive structures. Furthermore, by analyzing the distortions in the lensed light, scientists can infer the distribution of dark matter, an invisible substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe's mass. Gravitational lensing provides a powerful tool for probing the large-scale structure and composition of the cosmos.