Science & Tech · Space · 1 hr ago
Hubble captures a galaxy cluster that looks like a cosmic smile
NASA and the European Space Agency shared a Hubble image of a galaxy cluster that appears to have a smiling face.
The cluster, called SDSS J1038+4849, is 4.5 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major.
Its bright orange galaxies look like eyes, while arcs of light form a nose and a broad smile.
The shape is an effect called strong gravitational lensing, not a face in space.
The cluster’s immense gravity bends light from more distant objects as it travels toward Earth.
This can magnify and distort distant light, and sometimes create rings or several images of one object.
The image shows how gravity can shape what telescopes see, a phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity.
NASA and the European Space Agency used the Hubble Space Telescope to capture an image of galaxy cluster SDSS J1038+4849 that resembles a smiling face.
The cluster is 4.5 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major.
Its apparent eyes are bright galaxies, while the smile-shaped lines are arcs formed by strong gravitational lensing.
The cluster’s gravity bends light from more distant objects, creating the distorted shapes seen in the image.
- Who
- NASA and the European Space Agency captured the image using Hubble.
- What
- The image shows galaxy cluster SDSS J1038+4849, whose features resemble a cosmic smile.
- When
- NASA revealed the image on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- The cluster is 4.5 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major.
- Why
- The cluster’s gravity bends light from distant objects through strong gravitational lensing.
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- Cluster
- SDSS J1038+4849
- Distance
- 4.5 billion light-years from Earth
- Constellation
- Ursa Major
- Telescope
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Revealed
- 13 October 2026
What people are saying
In the case of this "happy face", the two eyes are very bright galaxies, and the misleading smile lines are actually arcs caused by an effect known as strong gravitational lensing.
Sources
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