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The way they're using the gravitational lensing here blows my mind. From what I understand they're using a distant galaxy as a part of the telescope itself to r
by JonnieCache 15y ago
The way they're using the gravitational lensing here blows my mind. From what I understand they're using a distant galaxy as a part of the telescope itself to resolve objects behind it. Insane.
Surely this constitues the largest scientific instrument ever?
- gnaritas 15y agoThat's a pretty standard usage of gravitational lensing. It's a giant magnifying glass in space, and they've used them as such since like forever.
- rudyfink 15y agoWikipedia describes https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Twin_QSO https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Twin_QSO ("Old Faithful") as the first identified gravitationally lensed object. So, "since forever" is 1979, which makes me feel old.
- gnaritas 15y ago30+ years ago, so it should, depending on whether you remember 1979. I don't really, I was 5.
- splat 15y agoIn astrophysics, anything more than 15 years old is considered "archeoastronomy."
- JonnieCache 15y agoMakes a change from web programming, where the equivalent period seems to be about four months.