Space Sparks Episode 5

This Space Sparks Episode explores the concept of gravitational lensing.

This effect is only visible in rare cases and only the best telescopes — including the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope — can observe the results of gravitational lensing. The strong gravity of a massive object, such as a cluster of galaxies, warps the surrounding space, and light from distant objects travelling through that warped space is curved away from its straight-line path.

This video will highlight how Hubble's sensitivity and high resolution allows it to see details in these faint, distorted images of distant galaxies.

More information and download options: http://esahubble.org/videos/spacesparks005a/

Credit:
Directed by: Bethany Downer and Nico Bartmann
Editing: Nico Bartmann
Web and technical support: Enciso Systems
Written by: Bethany Downer
Music: Mylonite – Breath of my Soul (Mylonite MRP - Mylonite Recordz Production), Stellardrone – Stardome, Tomaz Vital – Auroras (www.trilhavital.com)
Footage and photos: ESA/Hubble, ESA, NASA