CuriousWorlds

  Introduction The cosmos is a treasure trove of celestial wonders, and among these marvels, the phenomenon of gravitational lensing stands out. In this post, we delve into the mesmerizing "Jewelled Ring" featured by the ESA/Webb Picture of the Month, showcasing the gravitational lensing of the quasar RX J1131-1231. Gravitational Lensing: Nature's Magnifying Glass Gravitational lensing, a concept predicted by Einstein, acts like a natural telescope, magnifying the light from distant celestial objects. This phenomenon occurs when a massive object, like a galaxy, warps the space around it, causing light from objects behind it to bend and create multiple images. The Jewelled Ring: RX J1131-1231 Located approximately 6 billion light-years away in the constellation Crater, RX J1131-1231 is one of the best-lensed quasars discovered. The foreground galaxy distorts the quasar’s image into a bright arc, creating four distinct images of the quasar. Studying Black Holes with Quasars...

 The universe is vast and filled with mysteries, two of the most enigmatic being dark matter and dark energy. These unseen forces make up the majority of the universe, yet their true nature remains elusive. At CuriousWorlds , we delve into the fascinating world of dark matter and dark energy, exploring what we know and the questions that still puzzle scientists. What is Dark Matter? Dark matter is a form of matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible to current detection methods. Despite its elusive nature, dark matter is thought to make up about 27% of the universe's total mass and energy. Its presence is inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter, such as stars and galaxies. Evidence for Dark Matter Galaxy Rotation Curves: Observations of galaxies show that stars at their edges rotate faster than expected based on visible matter alone. This discrepancy suggests the presence of dark matter, providing additional gravitational pull. Gravi...