Einstein Rings: Optical Illusions

An Einstein Ring can be explained by a phenomenon called gravitational lensing, which causes light shining from a faraway galaxy to be warped by the gravity of an object between its source and the observer. This effect was first theorized by Albert Einstein in 1912, and later worked into his theory of general relativity. In this video, Dr. Brian Welch explains this fascinating phenomenon of nature, and goes over how important Hubble is to exploring the mysteries of the universe. For more information, visit https://nasa.gov/hubble. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Producer & Director: James Leigh Editor: Lucy Lund Director of Photography: James Ball Additional Editing & Photography: Matthew Duncan Executive Producers: James Leigh & Matthew Duncan Production & Post: Origin Films Video Credit: Hubble Space Telescope Animations Credit: M. Kornmesser (ESA/Hubble) Gravitational Lensing in MACS J1149-2223 Credit: ESA/Hubble, L. Calçada Music Credit: "Binary Fission" by Tom Kane [PRS] via BBC Production Music [PRS], and Universal Production Music “Cosmic Call” by Immersive Music (Via Shutterstock Music) This video can be freely shared and downloaded at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14289. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, the music and some individual imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products.