The Euclid space telescope has captured a stunning Einstein ring, showing how gravity can bend light. The image features the nearby galaxy NGC 6505, surrounded by a nearly perfect ring of light. This ring forms when light from a distant galaxy is pulled around a closer galaxy’s gravity.

“This discovery is both rare and exciting,” said Prof Stephen Serjeant of the Open University. “A perfect Einstein ring like this gives us a unique look at a distant galaxy through the warped space-time of a closer one.”

Einstein’s general theory of relativity explains that massive objects bend light, acting like cosmic magnifying glasses. These rings help astronomers find hidden galaxies and measure the mass of foreground galaxies, including their dark matter content.

Unlocking the Secrets of Dark Matter and Energy

Scientists estimate that NGC 6505 contains about 11% dark matter. While this is a small fraction, dark matter and dark energy together make up 95% of the universe. The €1bn Euclid mission, led by the European Space Agency, aims to uncover their mysteries.

Euclid’s goal is to create the most detailed 3D map of the universe, spotting galaxies up to 10bn light-years away. This data will show how dark matter is spread throughout the universe and explain dark energy’s role in cosmic expansion.

Unearthing Hidden Phenomena

Located just 590m light-years from Earth, NGC 6505 highlights Euclid’s advanced technology. The telescope also revealed a hidden background galaxy 4.42bn light-years away, previously unseen.

“It’s incredible that this Einstein ring was found in a galaxy first observed in 1884,” said Dr Valeria Pettorino, ESA Euclid project scientist. “Despite years of study, no one had detected it before. Euclid is revealing secrets even in well-known parts of space.”