Euclid telescope captures stunning 'Einstein ring' in warped space-time near Earth

Euclid Telescope Captures Rare Einstein Ring in Stunning Detail (Image: ESA)

The universe continues to amaze, offering glimpses of rare wonders. The European Space Agency’s Euclid space telescope has captured a striking image of an Einstein ring. This rare phenomenon appears as a perfect ring of light around the galaxy NGC 6505. The galaxy lies about 590 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco. Scientists shared the discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics on 10 February 2025.

What is an Einstein Ring?
Named after Albert Einstein, this effect is explained by his relativity theory. Light bends around massive objects in space due to gravity. If a distant galaxy aligns perfectly with a closer one, its light bends into a ring. This creates the beautiful effect seen in the Euclid telescope’s image.

The newly captured ring’s light comes from a galaxy 4.42 billion light-years away. This distant galaxy remains unobserved and unnamed. The ring forms due to the strong gravitational pull of NGC 6505.

A close-up view of the center of the NGC 6505 galaxy, with the bright Einstein ring aligned with it, captured by ESA’s Euclid space telescope. (Image: ESA)

Discovery and Scientific Importance
Euclid archive scientist Bruno Altieri first spotted the ring in 2023. He noticed hints of the structure while analysing early telescope images. Later observations confirmed a nearly perfect Einstein ring.

"An Einstein ring is a rare and useful discovery," said Altieri. "This one is special because it is so close to Earth."

These phenomena help scientists study dark matter, dark energy, and cosmic expansion. Each new discovery deepens our understanding of the universe.