NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured a breathtaking Einstein ring, a rare cosmic phenomenon caused by gravitational lensing. This image reveals a spectacular alignment of galaxies, showcasing the immense power of the universe’s gravitational forces.
A perfect alignment, captured by @NASAWebb.
This Einstein ring is formed from two galaxies: the closer, massive one at the center is warping the light from the more distant galaxy behind it. Details: https://t.co/miYKdO4jhY pic.twitter.com/WJi2PnJQQM
— NASA (@NASA) March 27, 2025
A Cosmic Illusion: The Einstein Ring
At first glance, the image appears to show a single oddly shaped galaxy. In reality, it features two galaxies separated by an enormous distance. The closer galaxy, an elliptical galaxy from the SMACSJ0028.2-7537 cluster, sits at the centre. The more distant galaxy, a spiral galaxy, wraps around it, forming a bright ring.
This effect occurs when light from a faraway galaxy bends around a massive object in front of it. Einstein’s theory of general relativity explains this warping of spacetime, proving that gravity can bend light itself.
Perfect Alignment Creates a Stunning Ring
For an Einstein ring to appear, the foreground and background galaxies must align precisely. This creates either a full or partial ring. In this case, the alignment was near perfect, producing a complete ring of light.
This phenomenon allows scientists to study galaxies that would otherwise remain too faint to detect. Webb’s powerful Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam) captured the intricate details of the warped spiral galaxy, revealing individual star clusters and gas structures.
The Science Behind the Image
Astronomers used Webb’s data as part of the Strong Lensing and Cluster Evolution (SLICE) survey. Led by Guillaume Mahler from the University of Liège in Belgium, this project studies 182 galaxy clusters to track 8 billion years of cosmic evolution.
The team also incorporated data from the Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 and the Advanced Camera for Surveys. These observations provide deeper insights into the way galaxies form and evolve over time.
Last Month’s Feature: A Stunning Spiral Galaxy
In February 2025, Webb focused on NGC 2283, a barred spiral galaxy 45 million light-years away in the Canis Major constellation. Using both its Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI), Webb revealed intricate details of this galaxy’s glowing gas clouds and young stars.
NGC 2283 plays host to active star formation. Its bright spiral arms contain dense gas clouds that transform into stars. This galaxy also witnessed a supernova explosion, SN 2023AXU, just two years ago.
The Life Cycle of Stars Continues
Supernovae like SN 2023AXU play a crucial role in the universe. When massive stars explode, they scatter elements like oxygen and sodium across space. This enriched gas helps form new generations of stars, continuing the cosmic cycle.
Webb’s ongoing observations provide crucial data for astronomers studying star formation and galaxy evolution. Each image deepens our understanding of the vast and dynamic universe.
