13.19: Gravitational Lensing
Gravitational lensing can take place on several scales, from strong lensing to microlensing. Fritz Zwicky postulated in 1937 that this could allow galactic clusters to act as gravitational lenses. In 1979, Zwicky’s galactic clusters lensing theory was confirmed through observations of the Twin QSO, SBS 0957+561 .
Consider this …
Often called a “pioneer of the distant stars,” astronomer Edwin Hubble (1889–1953) played a pivotal role in deciphering the vast and complex nature of the universe. His meticulous studies of spiral nebulae proved the existence of galaxies other than our own Milky Way. Had he not died suddenly in 1953, Hubble would have won that year’s Nobel Prize in Physics.