This is actually the galaxy cluster SDSSJ 1038+4849, with its celestial bodies aligned and light rays bent in such a manner as to suggest a smiling smiley face. Two orange-colored eyes can be seen in the photo, as well as a button nose. These two bright galaxies are the eyes. The smiling lips appear to be caused by strong gravitational lensesing. Gravitational lenses are formed when light is “bent around” a large object, such as a galaxy or very distant star. Einstein’s theory of general relativity predicted gravitational lensing. It seems like the galaxy cluster SDSS J 1038+4849 is smiling. Image: spacetelescope.org. Galaxy clusters are some of the most powerful structures in the Universe. Their gravitational pull causes spacetime to be warped around them. This powerful gravitational pull can bend, distort and magnify light. European Space Agency says that “In this case of gravitational lensesing, a special ring — called an Einstein Ring — is formed from the bending of light. This is a result of the exact alignment of source, lens, and observer, which results in the ring structure seen here.” With the Hubble Space Telescope, astrophysicists have been able to explore these massive galaxies and allow them to see deeper into the beginning of the Universe. The Hubble WFPC2 and WFC3 telescopes studied this “smiley object”. This study was part of an investigation of strong lenses. Judy Schmidt submitted a copy of the image to Hubble’s Hidden Treasures photo processing contest.
