The Einstein ring is captured in galaxy NGC6505. This phenomenon, observed when galaxies align in a straight line, demonstrates the spacetime distortion predicted by the general theory of relativity. /Courtesy of European Space Agency, NASA, Euclid Consortium

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid space telescope captured a ring surrounding the galaxy NGC6505. This ring is referred to as the "Einstein ring." The Einstein ring is a phenomenon that occurs when multiple galaxies align in a straight line, allowing the one behind to be visible. The reason this phenomenon is named the Einstein ring is that it serves as a prominent example of the proof of general relativity. Large mass objects, like galaxies, distort spacetime, producing a "gravitational lens" effect that bends the light around them. This causes the light from the galaxy behind to bend, making it appear ring-like. The Euclid telescope discovered the Einstein ring in NGC6505 in 2023 and publicly announced it earlier this month.