Hubble Telescope Spots Smiley Face in Galaxy Cluster

Galaxy cluster SDSS J1038+4849 (PHOTO CREDIT: Hubble/ESA/NASA)
Galaxy cluster SDSS J1038+4849 (PHOTO CREDIT: Hubble/ESA/NASA)

In the center of this Hubble Telescope image is the galaxy cluster SDSS J1038+4849 — and it appears to be smiling back at you.

The two orange eyes of the grinning face are actually two distant galaxies, and the peculiar smile was caused by an effect known as strong gravitational lensing.

Galaxy clusters are so large that they can create a strong gravitational pull that warps the time and space surrounding them. From afar this creates a distorted view of reality, known as a ‘cosmic lens.’

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SOURCE: TIME, Adam Glanzman

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